This week, the Department of Justice signaled a major shift: slowing down enforcement of corporate and white-collar crime in favor of a narrower approach.

According to a memo from the DOJ’s Criminal Division, prosecutors are now being told to tap the brakes on corporate prosecutions, arguing that aggressive enforcement “burdens U.S. businesses” and “harms U.S. interests.”

This is a mistake — and it opens the door to unchecked abuse.

White collar crime costs American taxpayers and workers billions every year. From wage theft to corporate fraud, illegal dumping to financial manipulation, these crimes destroy lives and trust just as surely as violent offenses.

We cannot allow corporate misconduct to go unchecked in the name of fighting immigration. 

We call on the Department of Justice to safeguard strong enforcement of white collar crime, including corporate fraud, environmental violations, and financial crimes. 

Do not deprioritise it, do not under-resource it!  

White collar crime is still crime. And deprioritizing it sends the wrong message: that justice only applies to some.