USPS watchdog finds no diversion of postal inspectors to immigration enforcement

The U.S. Postal Service inspector general examined whether postal law-enforcement resources were being shifted to support the administration's immigration agenda. Auditors found that only nine inspectors, representing less than 1% of the force, were reassigned to a Homeland Security Task Force, and those moves addressed issues such as drug, human trafficking and financial crimes, not solely immigration. Additionally, thirty-nine inspectors, about 3%, provided address verification for ICE and the FBI when mail was involved in criminal activity.

The review showed a rise in initiated white-collar cases from 693 in fiscal 2024 to 1,100 in fiscal 2025, with only a slight dip in closures or charges, indicating no negative impact from immigration-related duties. Chief postal inspector Gary R. Barksdale affirmed that the Postal Inspection Service holds no immigration enforcement authority. The audit was prompted by congressional concerns and concluded that resource allocation to immigration enforcement did not affect the agency's core crime-fighting mission.