Eleven Democratic states on Thursday issued a statement criticizing the Trump administration’s “vague” threats of possible prosecution over it. immigration.
The statement was signed by attorneys general from California, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Mexico, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont.
He was referring to a recent Justice Department memo directing federal prosecutors investigate State and local officials refusing to implement President Donald Trump’s immigration policies, including plans to mass deport HS.
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“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 those words become illegal actions.”
In a memo, Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove, Trump’s former defense attorney, said that “federal law prohibits state and local actors from resisting, obstructing or otherwise failing to comply with lawful immigration related orders and requirements, consistent with, for example, the President’s broad Article II powers with respect to foreign affairs and national security, the Immigration and Nationality Act, and the Alien Enemy Act. ”
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Bove said U.S. attorneys’ offices are “litigation components as well Ministry of Justice investigates incidents involving any such misconduct for potential prosecution, including for obstruction of federal functions in violation of federal statutes. “
The attorneys general cited Printz v. United States, saying the federal government cannot compel local or state governments to carry out immigration actions.
“Despite what he may say to the contrary, the President cannot unilaterally rewrite the Constitution,” they wrote.
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“The president was concerned about threats to weaponize prosecutorial and U.S. Department of Justice resources to attack public servants acting in accordance with their state laws, interfering with their ability to build trust in the communities they serve and protect.”
Fox News Digital’s Jake Gibson, David Spunt and Danielle Wallace contributed to this report.
