A top Democrat on the U.S. House Judiciary Committee criticized the Trump administration's threat to prosecute state and local officials for refusing to cooperate with the president's immigration crackdown. The memo, which sparked swift condemnation from advocacy groups and legal experts, asserts that state and local governments are obligated to comply with the executive branch's immigration enforcement initiatives.
The top Democrat on the U.S. House Judiciary Committee issued a strong statement Thursday condemning the Trump administration's threat of criminal prosecution against state and local officials who refuse to cooperate with the president's planned immigration crackdown. This policy, Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) argued, will lead to chaos, division, and lengthy legal battles that will drain both state and federal taxpayers of funds that could be used to enhance national security.
Raskin emphasized that 'the federal government doesn't own the states,' rejecting the administration's assertion of absolute authority over state and local jurisdictions.Raskin's rebuke came in response to a memo issued by Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove to Justice Department employees on Tuesday, obtained by The Washington Post. Bove stated that federal law prohibits state and local actors from hindering or obstructing lawful immigration-related commands. He cited the Constitution's supremacy clause and other legal authorities to assert that state and local officials are obligated to comply with the executive branch's immigration enforcement initiatives. The memo also announced the formation of a 'Sanctuary Cities Enforcement Working Group,' tasked with identifying state and local policies and laws that conflict with White House immigration goals.This memo follows President Trump's Monday announcement of sweeping changes to U.S. immigration enforcement via executive actions. These actions include attempts to terminate birthright citizenship, reinstate his 'Remain in Mexico' policy, suspend refugee resettlement, and restrict federal funds to so-called sanctuary cities. In response, California Attorney General Rob Bonta labeled the memo a 'scare tactic,' according to The Los Angeles Times. Bonta stated that his team is analyzing the memo and will be prepared to take legal action if the Trump administration's vague threats escalate into illegal actions. Raskin, meanwhile, challenged the memo's lack of legal grounding, asserting that the Constitution and Supreme Court precedents clearly protect state and local governments from being 'commandeered' by the federal government to execute its policies. He criticized the administration's stance, noting the irony of a party that once championed state and local government now attempting to override their authority by compelling them to serve a federal agenda
IMMIGRATION TRUMP ADMINISTRATION SANCTUARY CITIES STATE RIGHTS CONSTITUTIONAL LAW
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