DOJ Declined Nearly 5,000 Cases
ProPublica reports the DOJ declined almost 5,000 federal drug cases — a 45% increase versus prior administrations — raising crimmigration overlap concerns for removal defense clients with federal drug referrals. The spike, publicized in the last 48 hours, may change plea and charging dynamics in immigration‑sensitive prosecutions. (x.com)
ProPublica’s analysis found the Justice Department quietly closed more than 23,000 criminal investigations in the administration’s first six months, a tally published March 31, 2026. (propublica.org (propublica.org)) ProPublica reported that roughly 11,000 of those declinations occurred in February 2025 after a department-wide review order, a step former DOJ prosecutors called unusual. (propublica.org (propublica.org)) The same reporting counted roughly 32,000 new federal immigration prosecutions filed over the six‑month window, a volume ProPublica said was nearly three times the pace under the prior administration. (theindependent.co.uk (independent.co.uk)) TRAC-derived figures cited by The Federal Docket show referral drops: ATF referrals to U.S. Attorneys fell 14.2%, DEA referrals for federal drug offenses fell 10.4%, and U.S. Marshals referrals dropped 12.6% in mid‑2025. (thefederaldocket.com (thefederaldocket.com)) A Reuters review of nearly 2 million federal court records found about 10% fewer people charged with federal drug offenses in 2025 vs. 2024 and a 24% decline in money‑laundering charges used to target higher‑level traffickers. (reuters.com (reuters.com)) ProPublica’s breakdown shows the declinations stretched beyond street‑level narcotics to include hundreds of terrorism, white‑collar and program/procurement‑fraud probes, with reporting naming specific category totals such as more than 900 procurement‑fraud declinations. (propublica.org (propublica.org))
