Senior officials are denying claims about changes to investigations involving federal immigration agents, despite recent guidance given to agents nationwide. Over the past few days, federal agents received notifications that the FBI would stop investigating confrontations with immigration agents. These cases occasionally uncover evidence that could potentially lead to the prosecution of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agents involved in violent incidents, according to sources briefed on the situation.

If such a change were implemented, it would drastically reduce the scrutiny on immigration agents amid growing criticism of federal officers’ actions during the Trump administration. Two recent fatal shootings by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Texas and Maine have brought government tactics under intense examination.

FBI managers across the country received written notifications about the changes on Thursday, according to sources who insisted on anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the internal communications. On the same day, some ICE agents were informed by their FBI counterparts. The guidance indicates that the FBI would cease investigations into claims of assaults on DHS agents. These investigations are designed to assess whether the agents were attacked, but they also serve the purpose of collecting evidence against officers involved.

Contrarily, a joint statement from the Justice Department and DHS rejects the notion that any changes in policy are underway. It asserts, “The relationship between DHS and DOJ in investigating assault on federal officer cases has not changed, and FBI will continue to investigate in accordance with agency policy.” It adds, “This administration is clear that anyone who assaults law enforcement will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”