The Justice Department under new leadership is shifting priorities to focus on enforcing President Trump's immigration policies. A memo issued by Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove directs federal prosecutors and law enforcement agencies to prioritize these initiatives and warns state and local officials who impede them could face potential charges.
The Justice Department's new leadership has directed prosecutors and law enforcement agencies nationwide to prioritize the implementation of President Trump 's immigration policies. A memo issued on Tuesday and obtained by CBS News states that state or local officials who hinder these efforts could face potential charges.
Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove, a former federal prosecutor who served on President Trump's legal team, emphasized the supremacy of federal law in immigration enforcement, citing the Constitution and various federal statutes. He stated that federal law prohibits state and local actors from resisting, obstructing, or failing to comply with lawful immigration-related commands and requests. Bove instructed U.S. Attorney's Offices and litigating components of the Department of Justice to investigate incidents of misconduct by state or local officials for potential prosecution. He also directed the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Forces to assist in carrying out President Trump's immigration-related initiatives.These task forces, typically focused on investigating terrorism threats, are now tasked with supporting immigration enforcement efforts. The memo further mandates that the Justice Department's law enforcement components, including the FBI and DEA, identify any evidence related to non-citizens within 60 days and forward it to the Department of Homeland Security. Cartels, violent crime, and the fentanyl crisis are identified as three of the most serious threats facing the American people, and the memo directs the Justice Department to work towards eradicating these threats, consistent with an executive order signed by President Trump earlier in the week. Bove's message strongly warns state or local officials against obstructing or refusing to comply with federal immigration law enforcement, making clear that such actions could lead to investigations and potential prosecution. The memo also instructs all federal prosecutors to pursue the most serious, readily provable offenses in any case, reverting to a policy enforced during President Trump's first term. This marks a departure from Biden-era policies that granted prosecutors more discretion in their charging decisions, potentially leading to lesser charges or less severe penalties. In essence, the memo signifies a significant shift in departmental priorities to align with President Trump's immigration agenda. Acting Deputy Attorney General Bove asserts the Justice Department's responsibility to aggressively enforce laws enacted by Congress and vigorously defend the President's actions against legal challenges. It is worth noting that Bove and Acting Attorney General James McHenry, both with expertise in immigration policy enforcement, are currently serving as interim leaders of the Justice Department. They are guiding the department while President Trump's nominees for these positions, Pam Bondi and Todd Blanche, navigate the nomination process
IMMIGRATION JUSTICE DEPARTMENT TRUMP LAW ENFORCEMENT FEDERAL LAW
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