US citizenship workers to become ICE-like agents under new rule

Juan Carlos Chavez, Tampa Bay Times on Sep 17, 2025

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A rule creating a new law enforcement unit within the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will grant federal officers authority to carry guns, execute warrants and arrest people for immigration violations.

The agency said in a statement that the move will strengthen and fulfill its role and mission to oversee lawful immigration such as green card applications, asylum claims and naturalization for new citizens.

Experts and advocates disagree. The order grants a new degree of independence to the agency by allowing it to handle investigations from start to finish instead of referring cases to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The agency will have the authority to investigate civil and criminal violations of immigration law within its purview.

Jeff Joseph, president of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, said the rule will push people further into the shadows. He said enforcement actions should be left to other agencies to ensure that immigrants felt safe submitting their personal information and appearing for interviews.

“The Trump administration has transformed U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services into an enforcement agency, weaponizing the immigration system against American families, asylum seekers, and businesses,” Joseph said.

It’s not clear how many agents will be added to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The agency said in an email to the Tampa Bay Times that it is not setting a target number, but “will hire enough to accomplish the mission.” The agency will establish a training course and academy with the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center and other partners.

“We want to be operational as quickly as possible while ensuring everything is done right,” the statement read. “This is a major priority.”

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services spokesperson Matthew Tragesser said the agency has always been an enforcement body, but the rule will allow it to expand the agency’s law enforcement capabilities.

“This historic moment will better address immigration crimes, hold those who perpetrate immigration fraud accountable, and act as a force multiplier for the Department of Homeland Security and our federal law enforcement partners,” Tragesser said.

Last month, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced that it is restoring “robust screening and vetting processes” to detect applicants seeking to defraud or abuse the immigration system, including those who make false claims to U.S. citizenship.

The policy follows other controversial decisions, such as assessing applicants seeking naturalization for “good moral character” and taking “a holistic evaluation” of an immigrant’s background. The agency said two weeks ago that it would only allow official state and local election workers to participate in the registration of new voters at naturalization ceremonies, barring community organizations and nonprofits from taking part.

The National Partnership for New Americans, a coalition of immigrant and refugee rights organizations across the nation, said the plan to create a unit of special agents will only bring negative consequences.

“Across presidential administrations, the role of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has been to process immigration applications, helping people to adjust their status, remain united with their families, and take the patriotic step to become U.S. citizens,” said Nicole Melaku, the group’s executive director. “The Trump administration is trying to take this away.”