According to sources familiar with the situation, the FBI intends to reallocate potentially thousands of agents away from immigration enforcement in order to focus on cyber threats and counterterrorism efforts.
The shift in resources was prompted in part by the United States’ strikes on Iran over the weekend, according to the sources.
According to the sources, the FBI has discussed shifting at least a couple thousand agents away from immigration work in order to better protect against threats from foreign adversaries, particularly Iran.
“The FBI does not comment on specific operational adjustments or personnel decisions,” an official told ABC News.
“However, we continuously assess and realign our resources to respond to the most pressing threats to our national security and to ensure the safety of the American people.”
Since the FBI began assigning agents to work on immigration enforcement in support of President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown, field agents have expressed concerns that fewer resources are being dedicated to counterterrorism and cyber threats, according to sources familiar with the situation.
ABC News previously reported that several months ago, the FBI directed agents from across the country, many of whom were working on counterterrorism and cyber issues, to assist the Department of Homeland Security with immigration enforcement operations.
