The FBI will no longer investigate cases involving alleged assaults on immigration agents, instead deferring such cases to Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), according to multiple sources familiar with the matter. The change was communicated to FBI field offices on Thursday, with HSI—an arm of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)—now responsible for investigating incidents involving its own agents.
The shift follows recent fatal shootings by ICE officers in Texas and Maine. On July 7, an ICE officer shot and killed a Mexican national in Houston who had lived in the U.S. for decades. Days later, an ICE officer shot and killed a Colombian man in Biddeford, Maine. The FBI had previously investigated similar cases, including a 2024 incident in Minnesota where prosecutors later dismissed some allegations after reviewing evidence.
The FBI and ICE did not immediately respond to requests for comment. However, the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a joint statement denying any change in oversight, stating that the FBI would continue to investigate in accordance with agency policy.
Critics argue that allowing HSI to investigate its own agents could reduce accountability, as DHS lacks jurisdiction over civil rights violations. The FBI had previously faced scrutiny for its handling of ICE-related cases, including resignations over the treatment of a fatal encounter involving an ICE officer and Renee Good in Minnesota.