The Department of Justice (DOJ) has expanded its Whistleblower Program to include several new priority areas in order to bolster enforcement and transparency. Announced by Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the DOJ’s Criminal Division, on May 12, 2025, these additions align with the current administration’s focus on tackling the most egregious crimes. Among the new areas, violations of federal immigration law stand out as a critical inclusion.
DOJ Whistleblower Program
The DOJWhistleblowerProgram, established in August 2024, was designed to incentivize insiders to report illegal activities by offering monetary rewards for original information leading to successful forfeitures. Initially, the program focused on violations by financial institutions, foreign corruption and bribery, domestic public official bribery, and healthcare-related offenses. The recent expansion adds:
- Procurement and federal program fraud
- Trade, tariff, and customs fraud
- Violations of federal immigration law
- Violations involving sanctions, material support of foreign terrorist organizations, and activities facilitating cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs)
Including immigration violations in the DOJWhistleblowerProgram aims to enhance accountability and compliance with immigration law in the following ways:
- Whistleblowers can provide crucial information to uncover and address illegal immigration activities, leading to better enforcement of immigration laws and deterring potential violators. They can shed light on systemic issues within immigration enforcement, such as corruption, abuse, and exploitation, leading to reforms and improvements in how immigration laws are implemented.
- Recognizing immigration violations within the program offers protections and potential monetary rewards to individuals who report such violations, encouraging more people to come forward without fear of retaliation. Employees who witness I-9 violations may be more likely to report these issues, knowing they are protected and potentially rewarded under thewhistleblowerprogram. This can lead to more tips and reports, prompting more thorough investigations.
- The DOJ’s focus on immigration violations means that there could be more investigations and enforcement actions against employers who do not properly complete or maintain I-9 forms. This can lead to penalties and legal consequences for non-compliance.
- Adding immigration violations to the DOJWhistleblowerProgram is a significant step towards addressing pressing concerns in immigration enforcement. This aligns with the administration’s broader policy goals and ensures thewhistleblowerprogram tackles these critical issues.
- Targeting immigration violations helps dismantle criminal networks involved in human trafficking, smuggling, and other related crimes, contributing to overall public safety and national security.
By leveraging the insights of whistleblowers, the DOJ aims to address complex and critical issues, support the administration’s policy objectives, and ultimately create a safer and more just society. Employers must take additional steps to ensure their I-9 processes comply with federal immigration laws to avoid being reported by whistleblowers. This can include better training for HR personnel, more rigorous internal audits, and stricter adherence to verification procedures. Expanding the DOJ Whistleblower Program to include immigration violations is a significant step towards enhancing accountability and transparency.
