Bessent made clear that the administration is not asking bank employees to become immigration agents. That could make community banks particularly useful. According to Bessent, community banks hold only 15 percent of banking industry assets and deposits but account for 40 percent of small-business loans. Gould similarly described banks as part of the effort to protect the financial system from the consequences of illegal immigration and criminal activity. Bessent paired the administration’s request for greater vigilance with a promise to continue rolling back regulations on community banks.