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By Shannon McDonagh
News Reporter
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The Department of Justice has instructed federal prosecutors to pursue charges against state and local officials obstructing the Trump administration's immigration enforcement.
A memo from acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove directs the DOJ's civil division to collaborate with the Sanctuary Cities Enforcement Working Group to identify and potentially challenge state and local laws impeding immigration efforts.
Why It Matters
President Donald Trump's immigration blueprint has revived policies from his first term, such as the "Remain in Mexico" policy while implementing new measures aimed at curbing both legal and illegal immigration. His administration is pushing back against sanctuary jurisdictions by considering criminal charges against officials who resist federal directives and restricting federal funding for noncompliance.
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This three-page memo, obtained by the Associated Press, emphasizes the administration's goal to prosecute individuals for serious immigration-related crimes and to increase deportations. To support these efforts, federal agencies, including the FBI and Bureau of Prisons, are instructed to share information with the Department of Homeland Security.
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What To Know
Bove's memo outlines a return to policies aimed at pursuing the most serious provable offenses, a hallmark of prior Republican administrations. Federal prosecutors are instructed to notify courts of the shift and prepare for an expected surge in immigration-related prosecutions. Additionally, any decisions to decline such prosecutions must be reported to DOJ leadership.
"Indeed, it is the responsibility of the Justice Department to defend the Constitution, and accordingly, to lawfully execute the policies that the American people elected President Trump to implement," wrote Bove, who prior to joining the administration was part of the legal team that defended Trump against two criminal cases brought by the DOJ.
The order signals a sharp departure from the previous administration's immigration policies and represents an immediate shift in federal priorities. Prosecutors are tasked with ensuring adherence to these policies, with significant implications for state and local jurisdictions resistant to federal immigration mandates.
Trump's executive orders have already caused ripples, such as the cancellation of appointments for migrants awaiting entry under the CBP One app. Mexico has agreed to continue hosting asylum-seekers under the reinstated "Remain in Mexico" policy, which critics say exposes migrants to dangerous conditions while awaiting U.S. court hearings.
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What People Are Saying
Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove, in a memo: "The Justice Department's responsibility, proudly shouldered by each of its employees, includes aggressive enforcement of laws enacted by Congress, as well as vigorous defense of the President's actions on behalf of the United States against legal challenges. The Department's personnel must come together in the offices that taxpayers have funded to do this important work."
Krish O'Mara Vignarajah, president of Global Refuge, criticized the reinstatement of "Remain in Mexico," saying it exposes migrants to "the darkest kind of déjà vu" and perpetuates unsafe conditions at the border.
"This policy does little to address the root causes of migration while exacerbating risks for those seeking safety," she said.
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What Happens Next
The Justice Department's focus on prosecuting state and local resistance to federal immigration enforcement will likely spark legal battles. Sanctuary cities and states may challenge the federal government's authority to penalize local officials for policies designed to protect undocumented immigrants.
Advocacy groups like the ACLU have already signaled plans to challenge these initiatives, particularly the reinterpretation of the 14th Amendment, which could take years to resolve in court.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.
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