MA AG Joins Peers, Refuses Using State, Local Authorities For Trump's Immigration Policy

BOSTON — Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell joined her peers from 10 other states in refusing to allow President Donald Trump's U.S. Justice Department to use state and local authorities for federal immigration law enforcement.

The joint statement was signed by Campbell, along with the attorney generals of California, New York, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, New Mexico, Rhode Island, and Vermont Thursday. It addresses a memorandum from Trump's Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove, which outline's the administration's expectations for state and local involvement in federal immigration enforcement.

Bove's memo argued the U.S. Constitution’s Supremacy Clause requires "state and local actors" to "comply" with the executive branch’s immigration enforcement initiatives.

"Federal law prohibits state and local actors from resisting, obstructing, and otherwise failing to comply with lawful immigration-related commands," Bove wrote. "The U.S. Attorney's Office and litigating components of the Department of Justice shall investigate instances involving any such misconduct for potential prosecution, including for obstructing federal functions."

But Campbell and her peers argued the Trump administration does not have the constitutional authority to commandeer of state and local law enforcement, or punish officials for not complying.

"Despite what he may say to the contrary, the president cannot unilaterally re-write the Constitution," a statement from the 11 attorney generals said. "The president has made troubling threats to weaponize the U.S. Department of Justice’s prosecutorial authority and resources to attack public servants acting in compliance with their state laws, interfering with their ability to build trust with the communities they serve and protect. Right now, these vague threats are just that: empty words on paper. But rest assured, our states will not hesitate to respond if these words become illegal actions."

"As state attorneys general, we have a responsibility to enforce state laws — and we will continue to investigate and prosecute crimes, regardless of immigration status," the statement continued. "We will not be distracted by the president’s mass deportation agenda."

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