Office of Special Investigations (United States Department of Justice)

The Office of Special Investigations (OSI) was a section within the Criminal Division of the United States Department of Justice responsible for identifying, investigating, and, where appropriate, prosecuting individuals who participated in Nazi persecution during World War II and subsequently immigrated to the United States. Established in 1979, OSI sought to denaturalize and deport these individuals, effectively stripping them of their U.S. citizenship and sending them back to their countries of origin.

OSI built its cases through meticulous research, often utilizing archival documents from foreign countries, including those captured from the Nazi regime itself. Investigators also conducted extensive interviews with witnesses and victims. Once a suspect was identified and sufficient evidence gathered, OSI would initiate legal proceedings, typically focusing on proving that the individual had lied on their immigration or naturalization applications regarding their involvement in Nazi atrocities.

While OSI primarily targeted individuals who had committed war crimes or crimes against humanity, its legal strategy largely relied on proving misrepresentation and fraud in immigration proceedings. This approach allowed the government to avoid the complex legal hurdles associated with prosecuting individuals directly for war crimes committed decades prior in a foreign country.

The Office of Special Investigations achieved considerable success in its mission, successfully denaturalizing and deporting numerous individuals. It faced some criticism over the years regarding the age of the individuals being prosecuted and the potential for errors or misidentification. However, it was largely recognized for its dedication to seeking justice for victims of Nazi persecution and preventing the United States from becoming a safe haven for war criminals.

In 2010, the functions of the Office of Special Investigations were merged with those of the Domestic Security Section to create the Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP) within the Criminal Division of the Department of Justice. The HRSP continues to pursue cases involving human rights violations, war crimes, and other serious offenses. The legacy of OSI and its work remains a significant part of the Department of Justice's commitment to holding perpetrators of human rights abuses accountable.