The second Trump Administration’s Department of Justice (DOJ) is already launching investigations against so-called “sanctuary cities” and other localities that have been defying federal immigration authorities.
According to the Daily Caller, the Trump DOJ has created a Sanctuary Cities Enforcement Working Group, which is tasked with identifying any state or local jurisdictions, including laws and policies, that are “inconsistent” with federal immigration law. The task force will also be responsible for filing legal challenges against those laws and jurisdictions.
“The Supremacy Clause and other authorities require state and local actors to comply with the Executive Branch’s immigration enforcement initiatives,” reads an internal memo from the DOJ obtained by Bloomberg.
“Federal law prohibits state and local actors from resisting, obstructing, and otherwise failing to comply with lawful immigration-related commands and requests pursuant to, for example, the President’s extensive Article II authority with respect to foreign affairs and national security, the Immigration and Nationality Act, and the Alien Enemies Act,” the memo adds.
In addition, the memo directed the DOJ and U.S. attorney’s offices to investigate any “misconduct” by officials who defy immigration enforcement, and determine which of them should face prosecution.
Several Democrat-run cities passed further sanctuary measures in the immediate aftermath of President Trump’s comeback victory in the 2024 election, including Los Angeles, San Diego, Boston, and Chicago.
Tom Homan, the former Acting Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and designated Border Czar for the second Trump presidency, has repeatedly vowed to crack down on sanctuary cities.
“There are federal statutes on the books for knowingly concealing and harboring an illegal alien away from ICE officers,” said Homan in a statement. “There are statutes on the books about impeding federal law enforcement officers – they’re all felonies.”
“Now these sanctuary cities cannot assist – OK, that’s fine,” he continued. “They can stand aside, that’s fine, but they cannot cross that line. If they cross that line, we’ll be asking the attorney’s office to consider prosecution.”
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