US Department of Justice pledges $300 million for criminal alien prosecutions

The U.S. Department of Justice has announced a $300 million funding initiative to increase prosecutions of “criminal aliens.” Under the Bridging Immigration-Related Deficits Experienced Nationwide Program (BIDEN), state and local agencies can apply for funds to hire special prosecutors, investigators, and forensic accountants to target fraud, drug trafficking, human trafficking, and gang activity.

In Virginia, the Arlington County Board voted 4-0 to allocate $50,000 in taxpayer funds to provide direct payments of up to $2,000 to families where the primary wage earner has been detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This local decision follows a recent ICE operation in Northern Virginia that resulted in over 1,300 arrests, including individuals with criminal records for offenses such as robbery, kidnapping, and murder.

The DOJ funding, authorized under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act in July 2025, is part of a broader “Task Force to Eliminate Fraud” chaired by Vice President JD Vance. Agencies receiving DOJ funds must submit regular performance reports to track progress toward program goals.