This morning, DOJ asked a court to drop criminal immigration charges against 17 adults who had been traveling with their children, the chief federal public defender in south Texas says.
Meanwhile, Main Justice says there has been "no change" to DOJ's zero tolerance policy.
Update: DOJ says in a statement it "did not dismiss any immigration violation cases in McAllen federal court today" and that reports to the contrary are "inaccurate and misleading."
Though the government *has* dismissed a handful of misdemeanor border-crossing cases, in south Texas and elsewhere, "in the interests of justice." For example: 
Some additional clarity:
These weren't technically dismissals. Federal public defender says 17 cases were removed from today's docket in McAllen. Border Patrol officials told defense lawyers they weren't bringing over migrants who were the heads of their household.
These weren't technically dismissals. Federal public defender says 17 cases were removed from today's docket in McAllen. Border Patrol officials told defense lawyers they weren't bringing over migrants who were the heads of their household.
A federal prosecutor confirmed this account during a hearing today in court in McAllen. Border Patrol bused 17 parents to court, decided not to charge them and returned them to immigration custody.
More: The chief federal public defender in west Texas advised lawyers there today that DOJ would "no longer bring criminal charges against a parent or parents entering the United States if they have their child with them." elpasotimes.com/story/news/imm…
The public defender said she was told by the U.S. attorney that this is the district's new policy. It contradicts what DOJ had said earlier today.
We've checked the docket for every immigration prosecution filed in southwest border districts over the past couple days, and so far there's no evidence that any have been dismissed.
