House Democrats Say Trump’s Immigration Crackdown Has Undermined Anti‑Trafficking Efforts

Nearly two dozen House Democrats warned that the Trump administration’s reallocation of federal law-enforcement personnel and resources to large-scale immigration enforcement and deportation operations has weakened the government’s ability to combat child exploitation and human trafficking.

In a letter sent Wednesday and first shared with the Guardian, the lawmakers demanded that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) "immediately" restore full staffing and funding to their anti‑trafficking units. The letter also raised concerns about the government’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein investigative files, arguing that the failure to release the full scope of documents in federal possession "damages trust in institutions meant to deliver justice." The letter was addressed to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi.

"The United States cannot claim to be serious about ending human trafficking while simultaneously dismantling the infrastructure built to fight it," the lawmakers wrote.

The Democrats said the administration has neglected federal obligations to protect vulnerable children, particularly youth in foster care who are disproportionately targeted for exploitation. They requested a briefing within 30 days detailing any personnel or funding reallocated from anti‑trafficking programs to immigration enforcement or other priorities.

Context and Reporting

On President Trump’s first day in office he signed an executive order refocusing DHS—created after the 9/11 attacks to counter foreign terror threats—toward immigration enforcement. That shift, the Democrats say, has resulted in large federal deployments to U.S. cities and a diversion of agents and prosecutors from other duties.

Reporting and documents cited by lawmakers show the scale of the redeployments. The libertarian Cato Institute published an internal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) document from August 2025 indicating more than 25,000 officers had been diverted from regular duties to assist immigration operations. A New York Times investigation in November found the intense focus on deportations had siphoned resources away from investigations into sexual crimes against children and other federal anti‑trafficking efforts.

Administration Response And Local Impact

The administration has defended its border policies as improving public safety. In a recent Fox News interview, Secretary Noem said, "By securing that border this last year, zero children — zero children — have been trafficked in the last 12 months because of President Trump’s leadership."

California Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager‑Dove, who organized the House letter and represents a Los Angeles district that includes a well-known trafficking corridor called "the Blade," said federal reassignments have strained local prosecutors, service providers and advocates. "Why are these girls no longer important? Is it because they’re Black and brown? Is it because they’re in a Democratic city? Or is it because this administration doesn’t care about protecting children?" she asked.

Last month, a group of Democratic senators raised similar concerns and demanded a "full accounting" of officers reassigned to immigration enforcement and the investigations affected. A DHS spokesperson responded by criticizing the senators’ understanding of DHS operations and arguing that crimes such as human trafficking and terrorism have a "nexus to illegal immigration."

What’s Next

The House Democrats requested a federal briefing within 30 days and urged immediate restoration of anti‑trafficking staffing and funding. Advocates and local officials say they will continue to press for transparency and resources to ensure trafficking investigations and victim services are not compromised.