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Donald Trump administration has sued four Democratic-led states for refusing to issue confidential license plates to Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents carrying out arrests in its immigration crackdown. The justice department filed separate suits on Thursday against Maine, Massachusetts, Oregon and Washington, contending the states unconstitutionally discriminate against the federal government, the Guardian reported. At least two of the states had declined to rescind their policies, even though they had long issued such plates to other agencies running undercover operations.
What does the justice department argue? The lawsuits say the states treat ICE and the Department of Homeland Security differently from state and local law enforcement, in violation of the constitution, and that the policies expose federal officers to harassment, tracking and assaults. "Law enforcement officers risk their lives every day to keep Americans safe and must be able to carry out their duties effectively," acting attorney general Todd Blanche said in a statement. The suits followed a threat that assistant attorney general Brett Shumate had set out in letters this month, warning the states the administration would sue if they did not change course, the PBS NewsHour reported.
How are the states responding? Officials in Maine and Massachusetts had cited aggressive ICE tactics, saying they did not want state resources used for covert civil immigration enforcement. Massachusetts governor Maura Healey, a Democrat, defended the policy and said the state backs legitimate criminal investigations, "but that's not what we are seeing from ICE and its unconstitutional tactics." The state would not help ICE "operate in secret, and without accountability," she said.
Figures referenced: Donald Trump. — JudgeMarket.
