DOJ Spies on Congress, Tightens Immigration Policies, and Shifts Fraud Enforcement

Welcome back, listeners, to your weekly dive into the Department of Justice's biggest moves. This week, the standout headline is the DOJ's explosive controversy over secretly surveilling members of Congress reviewing Epstein files, sparking outrage from both sides of the aisle. According to a February 13 statement from House Judiciary Ranking Member Jamie Raskin and colleagues, Attorney General Pam Bondi was caught with a document listing Rep. Pramila Jayapal's search history in the files—without consent. Even Republican Speaker Mike Johnson called it "not appropriate for anybody to be tracking." Raskin told reporters on February 9, "These materials could have been released long ago, but they're just being released now." The DOJ did publish over 3.5 million responsive pages this week in compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, per their official press release. Critics say this surveillance violates separation of powers, blocking oversight into Epstein and Maxwell's networks. Lawmakers demand a meeting with Bondi for better access, full public release with survivor redactions only, and details on the spying scope. Shifting to immigration enforcement, DOJ sued Virginia on December 29 for a policy favoring undocumented immigrants over out-of-state citizens, claiming it breaks federal law and boosts illegal entries, as detailed in the SAAPRI Access to Justice update. Starting February 27, H-1B visas shift to wage-weighted selection, prioritizing higher-paid workers to snag top talent, USCIS reports. Biometric scans now hit every port of entry and exit since December 26, with social media vetting for all H-1B applicants from December 15. A new rule effective March 9 slashes immigration appeals to 10 days, auto-dismissing many unless a board majority intervenes. On the enforcement front, DOJ launched a National Fraud Enforcement Division on January 8, targeting False Claims Act cases on DEI, gender care, and tariff evasion, per White House fact sheet. White-collar priorities pivoted in May 2025 to violent crime and immigration, revising self-disclosure policies for leniency on cooperating firms, Cleary Gottlieb notes. Meanwhile, the FY2026 budget slashes grantmaking by $850 million—15% down—axing violence prevention and victim aid but boosting cop hiring, Council on Criminal Justice reports. For Americans, tighter vetting and faster deportations mean less due process for immigrants, hitting families hard. Businesses face stiffer fraud probes and H-1B shifts favoring pricey hires, squeezing tech startups. States like Virginia risk federal suits over local policies, straining budgets. Internationally, FCPA crackdowns on cartels and bribes protect U.S. interests abroad. Quote from Deputy AG Todd Blanche's memo: PSN grants now fuel "Operation Take Back America" against sanctuary cities. Watch the March 9 appeals deadline and Epstein protocol talks. Stay informed at justice.gov. If you're impacted by immigration rules, check USCIS for filin This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.