For decades, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has been the quiet branch of America’s immigration system. Known largely as the place where immigrants apply for green cards, naturalization, and other benefits, it has traditionally been seen as an administrative office rather than a law enforcement agency. That, however, is about to change.
USCIS has announced that it will create its own unit of armed special agents with full law enforcement powers. This is the first time in the agency’s history that it will directly employ officers authorized to conduct criminal investigations, make arrests, and carry firearms. A final rule published last week gives the agency 30 days to begin implementing the plan.
Until now, the agency has relied heavily on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to handle the policing side of things. USCIS officers and fraud detection specialists could flag problems, but they couldn’t take enforcement into their own hands.
Now, USCIS will be able to recruit and train a team of classified officers. These agents will have powers that once belonged just to traditional enforcement branches, including the ability to obtain search warrants, make arrests, seize evidence, and present cases for prosecution. They will also be authorized to carry firearms in the course of their duties.
According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), this change is meant to streamline investigations and reduce the backlog of fraud cases. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem gave the new authority to USCIS Director Joseph Edlow, who said in a press release:
“USCIS has always been an enforcement agency. By upholding the integrity of our immigration system, we enforce the laws of this nation. As Secretary Noem delegated lawful authorities to expand the agency’s law enforcement capabilities, this rule allows us to fulfill our critical mission. This historic moment will better address immigration crimes, hold those that perpetrate immigration fraud accountable, and act as a force multiplier for DHS and our federal law enforcement partners, including the Joint Terrorism Task Force.”
The official reasoning behind giving agents more power, including the ability to be armed, centers on fraud prevention, according to the agency. USCIS processes millions of applications every year for green cards, citizenship, and work permits. Detecting fraud throughout that process has always been part of the agency’s mission, but its ability to act has been limited.
Proponents of the change also note that it will allow ICE to focus on larger-scale immigration enforcement, including national security threats, transnational crime, and human smuggling. Meanwhile, the new agents will be able to specialize in benefit fraud, fake marriages, falsified documents, and other such schemes.
USCIS special agents will also be able to conduct surveillance, serve warrants, and partner with federal prosecutors to bring cases to court. In addition, they will have the authority to order expedited removals in certain circumstances.
Critics claim that this kind of authority could affect relationship between immigrants and the USCIS. The agency has long been viewed as the “service” side of immigration, where people go to get lawful status and citizenship. Some fear the arrival of armed agents could create an environment of intimidation for applicants who have historically seen USCIS as separate from enforcement arms like ICE and Border Patrol.
Immigrant advocacy groups warn that blurring the line between benefits processing and enforcement could hurt trust and discourage some applicants, even those who are legitimate, from seeking services. Nicole Melaku, executive director of the National Partnership for New Americans, told NBC News that the change is “deeply alarming.” Others worry that this move is militarizing immigration agencies and consolidating enforcement powers under the executive branch.
Supporters, however, argue that the new authority is long overdue. They say it will help protect the integrity of the immigration system, deter fraud, and ensure that benefits are granted only to those who qualify. They also stress that the agents’ focus will be narrow, targeting fraud rather than broad immigration enforcement, and that shifting this responsibility to USCIS could improve efficiency across the DHS.
President Donald Trump’s strict illegal immigration policies continue to expand. Along with this rule, the administration is also considering changes to the naturalization process, including making the citizenship test more difficult. According to Politico, the revised test could include essay questions and higher language thresholds, making it more difficult to become a citizen.
This new rule is expected to take effect in early October, according to the Federal Register, and hiring and training will begin shortly after.
What was once an agency known for processing applications and welcoming new citizens will soon also be a law enforcement body, equipped with guns, badges, and the power to arrest. Whether this transformation enhances the integrity of America’s immigration system or erodes trust in it will be the subject of fierce debate in the months ahead.