Original Date Announced

Section 5 of Executive Order (EO) 14159, "Protecting the American People Against Invasion," directs the Attorney General, in collaboration with the Secretaries of State and Homeland Security, to "take all appropriate action to prioritize the prosecution of criminal offenses related to the unauthorized entry or continued unauthorized presence of aliens in the United States."

Trump 2.0 [ID #1390]

Subsequent Trump and Court Action

2025.01.21 Acting Deputy AG Memo on Interim Policy Changes Regarding Immigration Enforcement

Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove issued a memorandum to all DOJ employees titled, "Interim Policy Regarding Charging, Sentencing, And Immigration Enforcement." The memo directs U.S. Attorneys' Offices to pursue charges for criminal immigration-related violations, directs the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Forces (JTTFs) to coordinate with DHS and local law enforcement in the execution of the Administration's immigration-related initiatives, and directs DOJ litigating components to investigate those who resist, obstruct, or fail to comply with them. *Please see Associated or Derivative Policies for updates related to this memo*

Subsequent Trump and Court Action

2025.02.07 U.S. Attorney's Office Charges Over 500 Individuals for Immigration-Related Criminal Conduct in Arizona

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Arizona announced 565 immigration-related charges were filed during the first two weeks of the Trump administration. The press release highlights cases involving firearm smuggling, human smuggling, and illegal reentry.

Subsequent Trump and Court Action

2025.05.11- DOJ Memo: "Focus, Fairness, and Efficiency in the Fight Against White Collar Crime"

The head of DOJ's Criminal Division, Matthew R. Galeotti, issued a memo outlining DOJ's priorities and policies for prosecuting corporate and white-collar crimes under the Trump administration. The memo asserts that "the Criminal Division must be laser-focused on the most urgent criminal threats to the country," which include immigration enforcement. The memo amends the Criminal Division’s Corporate Whistleblower Awards Pilot Program to reflect the new priority areas of focus by adding new subject areas to Section II.3. These areas include: "Violations by corporations of federal immigration law; Violations by corporations related to international cartels or transnational criminal organizations, including money laundering, narcotics, Controlled Substances Act, and other violations; Violations by corporations involving material support of terrorism."

Subsequent Trump and Court Action

2025.05.12 - Reported: FBI ordered to prioritize immigration, as DOJ scales back white collar cases - Reuters

Reuters reports that after the May 2025 DOJ memo was issued, FBI agents were instructed "to devote more time to immigration enforcement and scale back investigating white-collar crime." Allegedly, FBI agents were told by their field offices to allocate "about one third of their time to helping the Trump administration crack down on illegal immigration."

Subsequent Trump and Court Action

2025.05.19 U.S. Attorney's Office - C.D. Cal. - Operation Guardian Angel Launched to Neutralize Californiaʼs Sanctuary State Policies that Protect Criminal Illegal Aliens

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California, covering the counties of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura, announced the launch of Operation Guardian Angel. The operation will file complaints and arrest warrants to "allow federal law enforcement to take as many defendants as possible into custody from state jails." The U.S. Attorney's Office states that the goal of the operation is to "neutralize – as far as possible – California’s sanctuary state policy" and "protect Americans from criminal illegal aliens."