FBI Agents Redirected From Counterterrorism to Immigration Enforcement

FBI agents who typically focus on counterterrorism and other national security priorities are being reassigned to assist with President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement agenda, according to new data released Wednesday.

Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) provided the information to The Washington Post, revealing that roughly one-quarter of all FBI agents have been reassigned from other duties to focus on immigration-related operations.

The reassignments include agents who were previously working on counterterrorism, drug trafficking, cybercrime, and counterintelligence. In some of the FBI’s largest field offices, more than 40% of agents have reportedly been redirected to immigration enforcement efforts.

Christopher O’Leary, a former senior official in the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division, told the Post that such moves are undermining national security preparedness. “We’re weakening ourselves day by day,” he said.

The shift is raising particular concern in Washington, D.C., where agents are being pulled from anti-terrorism assignments despite the city’s status as a high-profile target. The nation’s capital has long been considered one of the most at-risk areas for major attacks, as underscored by the events of September 11, 2001, when Flight 77 struck the Pentagon and another hijacked plane—United Flight 93—was believed to be headed for the U.S. Capitol before passengers intervened.

Analysts warn that the diversion of FBI resources could hinder the agency’s ability to investigate other serious crimes. A Cato Institute study published in September found that agents have been redirected away from cases involving child exploitation and drug trafficking in order to support expanded immigration operations.

Critics argue the policy represents a dangerous trade-off—prioritizing immigration crackdowns at the expense of national security and public safety.