Today, Attorney General Anthony G. Brown, joined by the attorneys general from California, New York, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Mexico, and Vermont, issued a collective response to a recent memorandum from a Trump administration appointee at the U.S. Department of Justice. The memorandum discussed state and local roles in federal immigration enforcement.
The group emphasized the constitutional limits on federal power to commandeer state resources for federal law enforcement, citing the Supreme Court case Printz v. United States. They clarified that while the federal government can use its own resources to enforce immigration laws, it cannot compel state law enforcement to participate without cost.
The attorneys general also addressed concerns over President Trump’s statements threatening to use the DOJ’s prosecutorial powers against public servants who comply with state laws, noting these threats undermine the trust between communities and law enforcement. They described the threats as “empty words on paper” but assured that any illegal actions would be met with resistance.
They reaffirmed their commitment to enforcing state laws and prosecuting crimes without regard to immigration status, stating they will not be sidetracked by what they termed as the President’s “mass deportation agenda.”
