Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said she is making hundreds of agents in the Department of State deputies to help with immigration enforcement.

DHS said up to 600 special agents in the State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service will help with the arrests and deportations of those who are in the U.S. illegally.

The department has also deputized employees at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Department of Justice to help with immigration enforcement, according to the release. The actions are a “key part” of giving law enforcement resources they need to fulfill a promise by President Donald Trump to carry out mass deportations, DHS said.

“Under President Trump, the Department of Homeland Security will use every tool and resource available to secure our border and get criminal illegal aliens out of our country,” Noem said in a statement Tuesday. “The safety of American citizens comes first.”

Chloe East, a fellow at the Brookings Institution who studies immigration policy, said using IRS employees to focus on U.S. borders will result in a loss of billions of dollars in tax revenues for the country, according to the Associated Press.

“The Trump administration would rather pursue immigrants rather than pursue money launderers,” she reportedly said.

On Feb. 3, Trump issued an executive order in which he directed Noem to assess the southern border.

Some Democratic members of Congress have expressed concern about the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement actions. Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., said in a news release last month the president has an “anti-immigrant agenda.”

“We can all agree that we need a secure and orderly border, however these executive actions only further complicate that effort — and many of them violate the rights guaranteed by our Constitution,” Padilla said. “So make no mistake: it won’t be long before a policy of chaos costs the American people.”

Have questions, concerns or tips? Send them to Ray at rjlewis@sbgtv.com.