Trump Expands DHS Powers in Controversial Border Crackdown

President leverages federal agencies to boost law-and-order image ahead of election

Apr. 17, 2026 at 5:43pm

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A moody, cinematic painting depicting a lone DHS agent standing in the shadows of an empty city street, the scene bathed in warm, diagonal sunlight, conceptually illustrating the controversial expansion of federal power in local affairs.The federal government's heavy-handed deployment of DHS agents to confront protesters in cities across the country has sparked concerns about government overreach and the militarization of domestic law enforcement.Washington Today

In a controversial move, President Donald Trump is using the Department of Homeland Security in unprecedented ways to make a heavy-handed show of force in cities around the nation, as he tries to bolster his law-and-order credentials ahead of the upcoming election.

Why it matters

Trump's aggressive use of federal agencies like DHS to intervene in local affairs has raised concerns about government overreach and the militarization of domestic law enforcement, especially in the context of ongoing racial justice protests across the country.

The details

The President has deployed DHS agents, including members of Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, to cities far from the southern border to confront protesters, despite objections from local officials. This marks a significant expansion of DHS's role beyond its traditional border security and immigration enforcement duties.

  • In the lead-up to the 2020 presidential election, Trump began ramping up the federal government's response to protests against police brutality and racial injustice.
  • Over the past 6 years, Trump has increasingly turned to DHS as a tool to project federal power and authority, even in areas traditionally handled by local law enforcement.

The players

President Donald Trump

The current President of the United States, who has sought to position himself as a 'law-and-order' candidate by cracking down on protests and expanding the powers of federal agencies like DHS.

Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

A federal executive department responsible for public security, including border security, immigration enforcement, and disaster response. Under Trump, DHS has taken on an expanded role in domestic law enforcement.

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What they’re saying

“The President's use of DHS agents to confront protesters in cities across the country is a dangerous overreach of federal power and a violation of states' rights.”

— Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Governor of Michigan

“This is not law and order, this is the Trump administration abusing its power to punish its political opponents. It's a blatant abuse of authority.”

— Representative Jerry Nadler, Chair, House Judiciary Committee

What’s next

As the 2020 election approaches, Trump's controversial use of DHS is likely to be a major campaign issue, with critics accusing him of prioritizing political optics over public safety.

The takeaway

Trump's aggressive deployment of federal agents to confront protesters in cities across the country represents a troubling expansion of executive power and a potential threat to civil liberties. This move has raised serious concerns about government overreach and the militarization of domestic law enforcement.