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... President Donald Trump's administration has carried out a sweeping overhaul of U.S. law enforcement this year, forcing out scores of attorneys and focusing large sections of the Justice Department on tracking down immigrants.

Its retreat from tax enforcement illustrates the toll that shift has taken on other crime-fighting efforts.

The administration made deep cuts to the Internal Revenue Service's criminal investigative unit, and some of those who remained were ordered to start working on immigration cases or anti-crime patrols in Washington, according to government records and officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity because they were not allowed to discuss their work publicly.

At the same time, the Justice Department closed its Tax Division, and officials said a third or more of the criminal lawyers who worked there quit.

The government estimates that it collects almost $700 billion less in taxes than it is owed each year.

Criminal prosecutions seek to recoup only a small fraction of that amount, but the threat of prison or large fines is meant to be one of the government's key tools for deterring cheating.

Experts including former IRS and Justice Department officials worry blunting the tool could embolden more cheating. ...