DOJ to Pay Informants Under New Program to Report Unlawful Entry, Visa Overstays, and Tariff Evasion

The U.S. Department of Justice is reportedly preparing to launch a new whistleblower reward initiative aimed at encouraging individuals to provide credible information about immigration violations and tariff evasion, according to recent reports from outlets including The Wall Street Journal.

The effort, which has not yet been officially announced by DOJ officials, is intended to bolster enforcement of federal laws by incentivizing tipsters to expose conduct that might otherwise go undetected. The program, modeled after the DOJ’s False Claims Act (FCA) whistleblower framework, could offer financial rewards of up to 30% of the first $100 million in recovered assets and 5% of amounts between $100 million and $500 million in applicable cases.

The initiative will reportedly focus on two key areas: immigration violations, such as unlawful entry and visa overstays, and tariff evasion, including misreporting of goods to avoid duties.

The DOJ aims to enhance its enforcement capabilities in complex cases—such as transshipment schemes, in which goods are routed through third countries to bypass tariffs. The program is also part of a broader effort to reinforce compliance with U.S. trade and immigration laws.

On immigration enforcement, the program comes amid a reallocation of federal resources, including reports that thousands of agents previously focused on child exploitation and other crimes have been reassigned to deportation efforts, according to Reuters.

The planned reward structure closely follows precedents established by other DOJ programs, including the False Claims Act and the Rewards for Justice program operated by the State Department, which compensates individuals who contribute to national security objectives.