DOJ Plans to Increase Prosecutor Positions at Border to Tackle Trafficking and Cartel Issues: Memo
U.S. attorneys’ offices along the borders will be exempt from the hiring freeze implemented by Trump. DOJ attorneys in Washington have been encouraged to accept transfers.
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) plans to recruit prosecutors to strengthen offices situated near the southern and northern borders, as outlined in a recent memorandum.
This directive aims to enhance staffing for cases related to illegal entry into the United States, drug and human trafficking, and activities concerning drug cartels. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche noted in a memo dated March 6, which was obtained by Reuters, that “Border districts have a unique role to play in these efforts.”
This exemption will extend to U.S. attorneys’ offices in Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, and Southern California along the U.S.-Mexico border, as well as districts in Florida, according to Blanche’s memo. Additionally, it encompasses offices in New York and Vermont near the Canadian border.
Illegal immigration has surged at both southern and northern borders in recent years, although recent figures show a decline under Trump, as reported by the Department of Homeland Security. On a recent day, only 200 immigrants were encountered at the U.S.-Mexico border, marking the lowest single-day apprehension total in over 15 years.
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The reported number of apprehensions does not account for illegal immigrants who evade federal authorities.
Blanche mentioned during his confirmation hearing before senators that he has observed the DOJ’s shift toward focusing on violent, transnational gangs, drugs, and border security.
“If confirmed, I plan to carry on with the mission that was initiated on Jan. 20, targeting gangs, terrorists, and those who support and harbor them for prosecution to the fullest extent of the law,” he stated.
He encouraged lawyers at the DOJ’s headquarters in Washington to accept transfers to border districts, indicating that some prosecutors might be required to relocate if voluntary participation is insufficient.
Federal prosecutors in those regions will aim to initiate terrorism-related cases against specific cartels identified by Trump as foreign terrorist groups, as stated in the memo. They will also pursue legal actions against local officials and advocacy organizations accused of obstructing federal immigration enforcement and harboring illegal immigrants, according to Blanche.
The DOJ did not respond to a request for additional information.
Reuters contributed to this report.
