Washington (AP) – When the FBI made arrests related to the MS-13 gang, Kash Patel was present to announce the case, heralding it as a key move towards restoring “community safety.”
In the coming weeks, the Department of Justice reported a $510 million seizure of illegal drugs headed for the US, with the FBI director showcasing the confiscated drugs alongside other law enforcement officials on a Florida Coast Guard ship.
His presence signified the FBI’s commitment to combating violent crime, drug trafficking, and illegal immigration—a priority that has gained urgency amidst the growing national security threats faced by the country.
The updated FBI priority list on the website emphasizes “shattering violent crimes,” aligning the bureau with President Donald Trump’s strategy to tackle illegal immigration, drug cartels, and cross-border gangs, which are central to his administration’s agenda.
In a statement, the FBI confirmed that its commitment to investigating both international and domestic terrorism remains unchanged. The threat landscape escalated recently due to a series of violent incidents, including a Molotov cocktail attack in Colorado perpetrated by an Egyptian man who claimed authorities overstayed his visa and shouted, “free Palestine.”
The department reiterated its intention to continuously evaluate threats and “allocate resources and personnel based on its assessments.”
Signs of restructuring are evident, as the Department of Justice disbanded the FBI-led task force on foreign influence and shifted resources to eliminate major public corruption units within the Washington Field Office.
Some former officials express concern that focusing on violent crime and immigration—a domain traditionally handled by other agencies—might detract from addressing the complex criminal and national security threats that the Bureau has historically investigated.
“Focusing merely on immediate gang activities could lead to overlooking more sophisticated strategic issues that are either currently present or emerging,” remarked Chris Piehota, a retired FBI official.
Focus on Immigration
Immigration enforcement is newly emphasized by the FBI. Since Trump’s presidency began, the bureau has assumed broader responsibilities, claiming over 10,000 immigration-related arrests have occurred. Patel has enhanced the administration’s commitment to prioritizing immigration enforcement, highlighting these arrests on social media.
Agents have been dispatched to visit unaccompanied immigrant children who crossed the US-Mexico border, purportedly to ensure their safety. Field offices have been directed to allocate personnel for immigration enforcement, while the Department of Justice has instructed the FBI to compile data on undocumented individuals in the U.S. and share it with the Department of Homeland Security, as long as it does not hinder ongoing investigations.
While it is not uncommon for the FBI to reconfigure priorities in response to evolving threats, addressing terrorism has consistently remained a top agenda item over the past two decades.
Director Robert Mueller famously transformed the FBI following the September 11, 2001 attacks, prioritizing national security and intelligence, leaving the fight against violent crime much lower on the agenda.
Power of Attorney to “Shatter Violent Crimes”
The FBI’s new agenda prioritizes “shattering violent crimes” alongside “protecting your hometown,” yet agency leaders emphasize that terrorism remains the Bureau’s primary mandate.
Patel’s predecessor, Christopher Wray, emphasized the challenge of addressing a multitude of threats. When he departed in January, concerns about terrorism were escalating, with investigations into Iranian assassination plots on U.S. soil, Chinese espionage and hacking of American telecoms, ransomware attacks on healthcare facilities, and Russian disinformation campaigns.
Last month, during testimony before lawmakers, Patel reported a surge in terrorist threats. Mentioning the October 7, 2023 attack in Israel, he noted that both Hamas and Chinese espionage concerns have prompted investigations in various departments. His stated goal remains to “take dangerous criminals off the streets,” exemplified by the arrest of three individuals on the “10 Most Wanted” list in conjunction with a large drug operation.
New Focus for Agents
The priority list concludes with two emerging areas: “Rebuilding public trust” and “Organizational accountability.”
These initiatives have resonated with Patel and his team, echoing claims that the FBI’s actions during the 2022 search of Mar-a-Lago for classified documents were politicized amid ongoing investigations involving Trump. Russian election interference and the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot have drawn further scrutiny toward the Bureau.
They have also pledged to investigate matters that resonate with conservative audiences, such as the leak of the Supreme Court draft opinion regarding Roe v. Wade. Personnel spent considerable time preparing documents relating to sex trafficking cases involving Jeffrey Epstein, a frequent topic among conspiracy theorists.
Retired FBI supervisor James Gagliano expressed commitment to enhancing the focus on violent crime; however, he cautioned that this should not come at the expense of other critical initiatives.
“Mission priorities will undoubtedly evolve,” Gagliano stated. “The threat matrix is constantly changing, and we must adapt accordingly.”
The Trump administration has highlighted various accomplishments in combating terrorism, albeit with a broad interpretation of what constitutes terrorism.
Officials from the FBI and the Justice Department are closely monitoring the fight against cross-border gangs, linking the battle against violent street gangs like MS-13 and the Tren de Aragua network to terrorism charges against defendants recognized as foreign terrorist organizations, including a Venezuelan individual suspected of being a high-ranking TDA member.
One national security issue that Patel has frequently discussed publicly is the ongoing threat posed by China, which he recently reiterated in an interview on Fox News. Wray had often characterized China as the most serious long-term threat to national security. Upon his departure in January, the FBI was actively combating espionage activities that facilitated access to the private communications of an unknown number of Americans by Beijing.
Signs indicate a broader restructuring of national security strategies.
The disbandment of the Foreign Influence Task Force and the Department of Justice’s reduction of criminal prosecutions concerning laws requiring registration for US lobbying activities on behalf of foreign entities are particularly notable.
Source: apnews.com