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President Donald Trump’s Justice Department plans to investigate and potentially prosecute state and local officials who do not comply with federal immigration laws, according to a leaked memo.“Let us be clear: we’ve already ensured that local law enforcement should be following state law,” said state Sen. Julie Gonzales, a Democrat from the Colorado General Assembly.The memo, which surfaced Wednesday, states that federal law prohibits state and local actors from resisting, obstructing, and otherwise failing to comply with lawful immigration-related commands and requests.It also warns that anyone who does so could face potential prosecution.“There’s no precedent for the prosecution of state and local officials in the manner that the Trump Justice Department is proposing,” said Cori Yoder-Alonso, a professor at George Washington University.The memo follows a series of aggressive immigration measures by the Trump administration, including the deployment of 1,500 active-duty troops to the southern border.This move is part of President Trump’s broader agenda to enforce stricter immigration and deportation policies.“I have no higher responsibility than to defend our country from threats and invasions,” President Trump said during his inauguration.The Justice Department’s memo comes just a day after 22 states sued the administration over its executive order to end birthright citizenship, which was signed hours after Trump’s inauguration.Legal experts suggest that these actions are pushing the boundaries of enforcement and could lead to significant legal challenges.“I think we’re going to see a really interesting clash between the state and federal authorities, and on the level of a constitutional challenge, the protections and the separation of power between federal and state law enforcement,” said Yoder-Alonso.On Capitol Hill, senior Trump officials met with GOP senators to discuss the next steps in their immigration plans, including the deportation program and finding a justification to reinstitute Title 42, a COVID-era order that completely closed the border.The Trump administration also canceled travel for refugees already cleared to resettle in the U.S. The move leaves thousands of refugees stranded after having gone through a sometimes years-long process to start new lives in America. This includes more than 1,600 Afghans who assisted America’s war effort, as well as relatives of active-duty U.S. military personnel.
WASHINGTON —
President Donald Trump’s Justice Department plans to investigate and potentially prosecute state and local officials who do not comply with federal immigration laws, according to a leaked memo.
“Let us be clear: we’ve already ensured that local law enforcement should be following state law,” said state Sen. Julie Gonzales, a Democrat from the Colorado General Assembly.
The memo, which surfaced Wednesday, states that federal law prohibits state and local actors from resisting, obstructing, and otherwise failing to comply with lawful immigration-related commands and requests.
It also warns that anyone who does so could face potential prosecution.
“There’s no precedent for the prosecution of state and local officials in the manner that the Trump Justice Department is proposing,” said Cori Yoder-Alonso, a professor at George Washington University.
The memo follows a series of aggressive immigration measures by the Trump administration, including the deployment of 1,500 active-duty troops to the southern border.
This move is part of President Trump’s broader agenda to enforce stricter immigration and deportation policies.
“I have no higher responsibility than to defend our country from threats and invasions,” President Trump said during his inauguration.
The Justice Department’s memo comes just a day after 22 states sued the administration over its executive order to end birthright citizenship, which was signed hours after Trump’s inauguration.
Legal experts suggest that these actions are pushing the boundaries of enforcement and could lead to significant legal challenges.
“I think we’re going to see a really interesting clash between the state and federal authorities, and on the level of a constitutional challenge, the protections and the separation of power between federal and state law enforcement,” said Yoder-Alonso.
On Capitol Hill, senior Trump officials met with GOP senators to discuss the next steps in their immigration plans, including the deportation program and finding a justification to reinstitute Title 42, a COVID-era order that completely closed the border.
The Trump administration also canceled travel for refugees already cleared to resettle in the U.S. The move leaves thousands of refugees stranded after having gone through a sometimes years-long process to start new lives in America. This includes more than 1,600 Afghans who assisted America’s war effort, as well as relatives of active-duty U.S. military personnel.
English (US)