The directives to Justice Department employees could face fierce blowback from legal advocacy groups and officials in cities and states led by Democrats.

Justice Department career officials were reassigned to advance Donald Trump's immigration agenda, an official familiar with the matter told USA TODAY.

President Donald Trump fired top immigration officials at the Department of Justice quickly after taking office. Chief immigration judge Sheila McNulty; the office's general counsel Lauren Alder Reid; general counsel head Lauren Alder Reid and acting Director of the Executive Office of Immigration Review Mary Cheng were fire, according to NBC News.

The U.S. Justice Department reportedly moved several senior officials to other divisions ahead of the Senate's anticipated confirmation of President Trump's attorney general pick.

The Justice Department reassignments involve top career officials in the national security and criminal divisions, according to multiple people familiar with the matter.