U.S. Border Patrol Expands Nationwide Operations Amid Trump Administration’s Immigration Crackdown

U.S. Border Patrol Chief Michael Banks has declared that agents will operate throughout the country to apprehend illegal migrants, signaling a significant shift in enforcement strategy under President Donald Trump’s second term.

Banks emphasized an unprecedented level of coordination between the Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as the administration’s immigration crackdown intensifies beyond traditional border areas into the nation’s interior.

“We are the United States Border Patrol, who will go anywhere in the United States of America, apprehend illegal aliens, prosecute them, and return them to their country or to a country that is amenable to be returned to,” Banks stated.

He also noted the end of an era where individuals could evade deportation after passing through border patrols. “Gone are the days where, if you got past the U.S. Border Patrol, you were free to go, you were free to live out your life, and not have to worry about deportation,” Banks said.

Recent deployments of agents have targeted major cities including Los Angeles, Portland, Washington, D.C., Chicago, Memphis, Charlotte, and New Orleans over the past six months, actions that have at times sparked protests from left-wing activists opposing federal law enforcement.

Traditionally stationed along borders to stop unlawful crossings, Banks stressed that the agency possesses legal authority to enforce federal immigration laws nationwide. He noted that the Department of Homeland Security has called upon the Border Patrol to assist ICE in operational needs.

While critics describe these actions as “raids,” Banks clarified that the Border Patrol supports ICE and responds to specific enforcement requirements.

“I will continue to provide the manpower and resources to support ICE anywhere they need it in the United States of America to eradicate illegal immigration in this country,” he stated.

Banks argued that interior operations are yielding measurable results, such as increased voluntary departures via the CBP Home phone app and reduced border-entry attempts. He cited these trends as evidence that enforcement is restoring deterrence.

According to recent government data, 1.9 million illegal aliens have voluntarily departed since Trump took office.

The administration’s strategy combines tougher interior enforcement with expanded border deterrents. Banks revealed plans to install approximately 900 miles of floating buoy barriers along the Rio Grande starting in early 2026—a significant expansion of a controversial tool designed to stop crossings and enhance detection response.

“I have never seen this much support from a president and a secretary,” Banks said, praising the administration’s approach.

Separately, reports indicate that the Trump administration is seeking contractors to convert industrial warehouses into large-scale staging centers aimed at speeding up deportations and reducing the chaos of current detention practices.

These policies collectively reflect a core priority: ending catch-and-release procedures, reestablishing consequences for illegal entry and residence, and sending a clear message that such actions will no longer be ignored, regardless of distance from the border.