Indian American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) has written to FBI Director Kash Patel raising concerns over the Department of Justice’s reported decision to redirect FBI personnel away from their core national security responsibilities.

In the letter dated December 23, Krishnamoorthi warned that counterterrorism and counterintelligence agents have been reassigned to support what he described as “mass immigration enforcement operations,” a shift he cautioned could place the United States at increased risk.

The letter noted that senior DOJ officials have redirected personnel and assets from the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s primary mission, despite the Bureau’s own assessment that terrorists and hostile nation-state actors pose the most immediate threats to the homeland.

“Over the last year, senior officials have reassigned personnel and assets from the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) core national security mission to immigration enforcement, leaving counterterrorism and counterintelligence work compromised and putting our national security at risk,” the letter stated.

The Congressman cited reporting indicating that in early 2025, DOJ leadership directed FBI Joint Terrorism Task Forces to assist with immigration initiatives. As a result, agents responsible for terrorism investigations, espionage detection, and cyber threat monitoring were required to shift their focus away from national security priorities.

“Agents responsible for espionage detection cyber threat monitoring, and terrorism investigation, therefore, were required to prioritize immigration enforcement, giving less attention to crucial national security threats,” the letter noted.

According to the letter, this redirection has occurred even as alleged terrorist incidents have increased across the United States. It added that “nearly a quarter of the FBI’s roughly 13,000 agents nationwide, and up to 40 percent in the largest field offices, remain assigned to immigration enforcement duties.”

Congressman Krishnamoorthi also pointed to reporting that critical investigations into terrorist financing, money laundering, and the illicit trade in looted antiquities have been delayed. These include probes into the Iranian oil black market, which authorities say is used to finance terrorism.

“Internal sources further indicate that these core national security investigations, including into the black market for Iranian oil sold to finance terrorism, have been delayed by months,” the letter added.

Additional reporting cited by the Congressman warned that the diversion of counterterrorism and counterintelligence personnel has halted several major investigations. “The shift of resources from counterterrorism and counterintelligence teams, including many FBI personnel working years-long complex investigations involving classified techniques and sources, have caused several critical investigations to stop,” the letter stated.

The letter further raised concerns that counterintelligence specialists with deep expertise on China, Russia, and Iran have been reassigned to immigration-related cases. According to the Congressman, this has weakened enforcement of the Foreign Agents Registration Act and allowed foreign intelligence operatives greater latitude to operate within the United States.

“These shifts have limited investigations into violations of the Foreign Agents Registration Act and have allowed foreign intelligence operatives greater room to maneuver within the United States,” the letter said.

Emphasizing the FBI’s statutory mandate, the letter warned that its counterterrorism and counterintelligence divisions are designed to address threats posed by hostile foreign actors, not to conduct civil immigration enforcement or unrelated administrative duties.

In light of these concerns, Congressman Krishnamoorthi requested that the FBI provide detailed responses on the scope and impact of the personnel reassignments. His questions sought clarity on how many national security personnel were redirected, whether critical investigations were delayed or deprioritized, whether formal risk assessments were conducted, and what steps are being taken to restore full operational readiness and prevent future diversions of national security resources.

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