Federal prosecutors initially sought to secure felony charges against the man, dubbed "Sandwich Guy," but a grand jury declined to return an indictment.
The Cracker Barrel saga is just the latest example of a consumer-facing company making a big branding decision, then pulling back after alienating its customer base.
The Justice Department can now hire attorneys without immigration law experience to help reduce case backlogs; critics cite concerns over inexperience and possible "political bias."