CBP Redeploys Agents to Assist ICE Interior Operations Following Historic Drop in Border Encounters
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials announced today that the agency is surging resources to support U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in targeted operations nationwide. The strategic shift, described by agency leadership as a direct result of “collaboration across all federal departments” and “record low encounters” at the southern border, marks a significant pivot from border containment to interior enforcement.
According to the latest agency data, migrant encounters at the U.S.-Mexico border have plummeted to their lowest levels in over 50 years. With the immediate pressure on frontline border sectors alleviated, CBP is reallocating personnel and technology—previously tied up processing asylum claims and managing overcrowding—to assist ICE in locating and removing individuals identified as national security threats, gang members, and violent offenders within the United States.
Deep Search: From Border Defense to Interior Offense
The operational surge involves deploying Border Patrol agents and specialized units to assist ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) in major metropolitan areas. This “force multiplier” effect is designed to clear backlogs of outstanding removal orders and target transnational criminal organizations, such as the Tren de Aragua gang.
Recent statistics underscore the magnitude of the shift. In Fiscal Year 2025, border encounters reportedly dropped to approximately 237,000, a stark contrast to the record highs exceeding 2.2 million seen in previous years. With daily encounters now averaging below 300 in some sectors, CBP leadership argues that the agency has the capacity to “go on the offense” against criminal networks embedded in American communities. The surge also includes increased utilization of biometric data and intelligence sharing between DHS components to track individuals who may have evaded capture during previous border surges.
Background: A Drastic Shift in Border Dynamics
The current landscape represents a sharp departure from the border crisis that characterized the early 2020s. Following the implementation of strict asylum restrictions, the resumption of the “Smart Wall” construction, and the termination of catch-and-release policies, illegal crossings have flatlined.
During the height of the influx between 2021 and 2024, CBP resources were almost entirely consumed by humanitarian processing and logistics. The substantial decline in traffic has allowed the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to pivot toward interior enforcement, a long-stated goal of the current administration’s immigration agenda. The collaboration mentioned in the CBP statement refers to a broader federal initiative that aligns the Department of Justice, DHS, and local law enforcement partners to expedite deportations and dismantle smuggling infrastructures.
Objections: Humanitarian and Civil Liberties Concerns
While administration officials tout the numbers as a victory for national security, the pivot to interior enforcement has drawn sharp criticism from immigration advocacy groups and civil rights organizations. Opponents argue that “surging” border resources into American cities could lead to increased racial profiling and spread fear through immigrant communities, including among mixed-status families.
Critics also contend that the “record low” border numbers are not solely a result of successful enforcement, but rather the product of draconian policies that have effectively dismantled the legal asylum system. Humanitarian groups warn that while the U.S. side of the border appears quiet, tens of thousands of vulnerable migrants remain stranded in dangerous conditions in northern Mexico, unable to access legal pathways to safety. Furthermore, legal observers have raised concerns that utilizing Border Patrol agents—who are trained for interdiction between ports of entry—for interior policing operations may overstep their traditional statutory authority and lack the necessary oversight.
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