Democratic-led states knock ‘vague’ threats to prosecute immigration enforcement noncompliance

Eleven Democratic-led states released a statement criticizing the “vague” threats from the Trump administration about prosecution related to noncompliance with immigration enforcement.

The statement, released Thursday, was signed by 11 state attorneys general in blue states and addressed the recent memo sent out by the Department of Justice (DOJ) instructing prosecutors to investigate state and local governments that don’t comply with President Trump’s mass deportation plans.

“Right now, these vague threats are just that: empty words on paper,” the statement said. “But rest assured, our states will not hesitate to respond if these words become illegal actions.”

The statement was signed by California Attorney General Rob Bonta (D), along with the attorneys general of New York, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Mexico, Rhode Island and Vermont.

On Wednesday, acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove reportedly sent a memo to the DOJ workforce instructing them to investigate local officials that “threaten to impede” Trump’s immigration plans. It noted the DOJ could challenge those officials in court for noncompliance.

The attorneys general noted in their statement a day later that the federal government is within its rights to use its own resources to implement an immigration plan, but under the case Printz v. United States, the federal government can’t use state law enforcement for such actions.

“Despite what he may say to the contrary, the President cannot unilaterally re-write the Constitution,” the attorneys general wrote.

They argue that Trump has made “troubling threats” to weaponize the DOJ’s prosecutorial authority and the department’s resources to “attack public servants” that are working in line with state law. Those actions interfere with state and local officials’ abilities to build trust in the communities they serve, they argue.

“As state attorneys general, we have a responsibility to enforce state laws — and we will continue to investigate and prosecute crimes, regardless of immigration status,” they wrote. “We will not be distracted by the President’s mass deportation agenda.”

The Associated Press noted that it’s common for the DOJ to shift enforcement policies under a new administration, but the memo outlines the significant changes to the department and various states under Trump’s immigration plan.

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