The US Justice Department has threatened local and state officials with prosecution if they fail to cooperate with President Donald Trump’s immigration policies, which include a pledge to deport millions of undocumented immigrants. .
Citing the Constitutional Clause separation of powers, Acting Deputy Attorney General Emile Bowe said in a memo that “Federal law prohibits state and local actors from resisting, obstructing, and otherwise failing to comply with lawful immigration-related orders.” Is.”
“The Justice Department will investigate any such incidents of misconduct for possible prosecution,” Bowe said in a memo released late Tuesday and published by US media on Wednesday.
Trump announced new restrictions on immigration and asylum into the United States just hours after taking office on Monday, including plans to send troops to the US-Mexico border and end birthright citizenship.
The Republican president vowed during his White House campaign to carry out the largest mass deportation of migrants in US history.
Bowe said a newly created Sanctuary Cities Enforcement Working Group “will identify state and local laws, policies, and activities that are inconsistent with the Executive Branch’s immigration initiatives and, where appropriate, will take legal action to challenge such laws.” ”
Many Democratic-controlled “sanctuary cities” in the United States restrict cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
Bowe said, “Legislation and actions that threaten to hinder the executive branch’s immigration initiatives, including prohibiting the disclosure of information to federal officials engaged in immigration enforcement activities, threaten public safety and national security.” Is.”
Bove, who served as one of Trump’s personal lawyers before being nominated to the Justice Department, also directed the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force to participate “in the execution of President Trump’s immigration-related initiatives.” .
He said, the FBI and other agencies should “review their files for identifying information and/or biometric data related to noncitizens who are in the United States illegally” and turn it over to the Department of Homeland Security to facilitate removal. Should be handed over.
