The FBI has instructed its agents to shift their focus towards tackling illegal foreign activities within the United States, leading to reports that they may divert resources from white-collar crime investigations to concentrate more on immigration enforcement.
Ongoing investigations into white-collar crime are expected to be sidelined at least until the end of 2025, as mentioned by sources on Monday.
This directive coincided with a statement from Matthew Galeotti, who heads the DOJ’s Criminal Division. He indicated that prosecutors would be minimizing their efforts in these cases to lessen their impact and length.
In a memorandum released on Monday, Galeotti highlighted cross-border offenses such as healthcare fraud, trade and customs fraud, and securities fraud as top priorities for prosecution.
He also urged prosecutors to consider whether corporate wrongdoing warranted federal prosecution.
“In many cases, individual charges and administrative measures against businesses can effectively address minor corporate violations while safeguarding U.S. interests,” Galeotti noted.
The heightened focus on immigration enforcement follows warnings from Andreal Rukas, the acting chairman of President Trump’s U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). She cautioned companies that favor immigrant labor, particularly H-1B visa holders, over American workers, indicating they may face federal scrutiny and discrimination claims.
“The EEOC is advising employers that if you contribute to the immigration crisis or exploit the immigration system by favoring non-American workers, you need to change your practices,” she stated in a notice from February 20.
“The law is applicable to everyone, and adherence is mandatory. The EEOC exists to protect all workers from discrimination based on national origin, including American workers,” she concluded.
