Homeland Security Shift to Immigration Correlated with Drop in Drug and Gun Arrests

Internal government data indicates that U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) made fewer arrests for drugs and seized fewer illegal guns. This change occurred as the agency redirected its special agents toward immigration enforcement. According to internal documents, the Trump administration prioritized a mass deportation agenda. This policy required HSI to move resources away from other criminal investigations. As a result, HSI's work on non-immigration crimes declined. The documents show a direct correlation between the increased focus on immigration and the decrease in arrests and seizures for drugs and firearms. HSI is a key federal agency that investigates transnational crime. Its areas of focus include human trafficking, drug smuggling, and weapon trafficking.