FBI Shifts Focus: A Quarter of Agents Assigned to Immigration— Is National Security at Risk?

New FBI Director Kash Patel speaks after his swearing-in ceremony in Washington, D.C.'s Indian Treaty Room on February 21, 2025.(Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Washington, D.C. - October 10, 2025 – In a stark illustration of the escalating focus on border security under the Trump administration, nearly a quarter of the FBI's approximately 13,000 agents are currently reassigned to immigration enforcement duties, according to internal bureau data obtained by Senate Intelligence Committee Vice Chairman Mark Warner (D-Va.). This massive shift, which has pulled agents from critical areas like counterterrorism, cybercrime investigations, and drug trafficking probes, is raising alarms among lawmakers and security experts who warn it could compromise the nation's ability to address other pressing threats.

The reallocation represents about 23% of the FBI's total agent workforce nationwide, with even higher concentrations in major field offices—up to 47% in some locations—where resources have been diverted to support Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations amid a renewed crackdown on undocumented immigrants.The data, shared exclusively with The Washington Post, highlights how the bureau's priorities have tilted dramatically since President Trump's return to office, with agents now assisting in raids, deportations, and vetting processes that have intensified following executive orders aimed at mass removals.

Warner, in a statement to reporters, expressed deep concern over the implications: "While immigration enforcement is important, we cannot afford to hollow out our capacity to combat terrorism, espionage, and cyber threats from adversaries like China and Russia."The senator's office reviewed FBI statistics showing that in the past six months, immigration-related assignments have surged by over 150%, coinciding with a spike in ICE arrests—more than 500,000 nationwide since January.

Critics, including former FBI officials, argue this comes at a steep cost: preliminary reports indicate a 20% drop in new case openings for violent crimes and a slowdown in responses to fentanyl trafficking networks, which have fueled the ongoing opioid crisis.

The FBI's involvement stems from a directive issued in February 2025 by Director Kash Patel, a Trump loyalist, to embed agents in joint task forces with ICE and Border Patrol, prioritizing "national security threats posed by unchecked migration." Proponents of the policy, including White House officials, defend it as essential for safeguarding communities, pointing to recent busts of smuggling rings linked to cartels and potential terrorist watchlist crossers."These aren't just border issues—they're homeland security imperatives," Patel said during a congressional briefing last week.

Yet, the strain is evident on the ground. In cities like Los Angeles and New York, where immigration squads have ballooned, local FBI divisions report backlogs in cyber fraud cases amid rising ransomware attacks from state-sponsored hackers.A bipartisan group of House members has called for an independent audit, fearing that the imbalance could echo the post-9/11 resource crunches that delayed responses to emerging dangers. "We're trading one risk for another," said Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn.), ranking member on the House Intelligence Committee.

As the administration pushes for even more aggressive enforcement—targeting sanctuary cities and expanding detention facilities—the debate intensifies. Immigration advocates decry the move as a politicized diversion, while security hawks urge a balanced approach. With midterm elections looming, this internal FBI shuffle could become a flashpoint, testing whether America's guardians can juggle border vigilance without blind spots elsewhere.

The bureau has not publicly commented on the figures but insists all assignments align with statutory mandates. For now, the numbers tell a story of stretched thin: a force built for multifaceted threats, now laser-focused on one.