Trump DOJ Gears Up for Immigration Enforcement: Policy Shifts and Repercussions

Amidst shifting priorities, Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove has called for a significant reallocation of resources within the Department of Justice towards immigration enforcement efforts. This move includes the redirection of anti-terrorism squads to support the administration’s immigration initiatives.

Policy Reversals and Directives

In one of its initial actions, the Trump administration instructed the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Forces to play a role in enforcing immigration policies set forth by President Trump. This directive, as outlined in a memo obtained by POLITICO, may disrupt the operations of these task forces, given that some members, primarily state and local law enforcement officers, are restricted by sanctuary laws from participating in immigration enforcement activities.

Furthermore, Bove has urged U.S. attorneys to take legal action against ‘state and local actors’ who oppose, obstruct, or fail to adhere to lawful immigration commands. Prosecutors are mandated to escalate cases where declination occurs, reporting such incidents to the Department of Justice headquarters.

Reversal of Biden-era Policies

Bove’s memo also outlines the reversal of several changes implemented by the previous administration in criminal charging protocols. Prosecutors are now instructed to pursue the most severe charges that can be substantiated against each defendant, aligning with guidelines laid out in a May 2017 memo by former Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

These recent policy shifts within the Department of Justice underscore the administration’s commitment to stringent immigration enforcement measures, signaling a departure from the approach taken by the previous administration.