Quotes
Now, it’s normal to say, ‘OK we’re the feds, we have this priority. State and locals, we would love your help. We will solicit your help. We expect your help,
Honig continued
‘Hey, locals, state and local authorities,’ and by the way, I was federal and state so I can see this from both sides. ‘If you get in our way, if you obstruct what we’re doing, we might prosecute you.’
The “extraordinary” part, though, per Honig, is the Justice Department essentially sayingPart of it is completely normal,
acknowledged Honig, who himself is a former federal and state prosecutorThere has been some reporting out there that says the feds have said we’re going to prosecute you locals if you don’t comply,
he notedWhat is being threatened is if you commit a crime, if you harbor an illegal alien, which is a federal crime,
he detailedThis may just be the beginning of Trump’s revenge tour and the DOJ prosecuting his political opponents or those who are standing in the way of his ambitious agenda,
former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani, president of West Coast Trial Lawyers, said in a statement to The Independent
This is a scare tactic, plain and simple. The President is attempting to intimidate and bully state and local law enforcement into carrying out his mass deportation agenda for him,
California Attorney General Rob Bonta wrote in a statementThe Supremacy Clause [of the U.S. Constitution] and other authorities require state and local actors to comply with the Executive Branch’s immigration enforcement initiatives”
according to the Justice Department memo
If your Chicago mayor doesn’t want to help, he can step aside,
Trump immigration czar Tom Homan reportedly said late last yearSheriff Miyamoto and the San Francisco Sheriff’s Office protect undocumented immigrants,
a statement on X readThe legal question for judges will be, is inaction enough to be a violation of the law?”
he addedWe are very well aware of what the law requires us to do and what it permits us to do,
he said
Federal law prohibits state and local actors from resisting, obstructing or otherwise failing to comply with lawful immigration-related commands and requests.
It states
It is the responsibility of the Justice Department to defend the Constitution and, accordingly, to lawfully executive the policies that the American people elected President Trump to implement.
He also cited threats posed by international gangs and drug cartels, writingLaws and actions that threaten to impede Executive Branch immigration initiatives, including by prohibiting disclosures of information to federal authorities engaged in immigration enforcement activities, threaten public safety and national security,
Bove said
The Department of Justice shall investigate incidents involving any such misconduct for potential prosecution,
Bove added in the memo issued late Tuesday and published by U.S. media on WednesdayIf Donald Trump tries to break the law and abuse his power, he will get no help from us,
Johnston spokesperson Jordan Fuja said in a statement to NBC News,
The Department of Justice will take all steps necessary to protect the public and secure the American border by removing illegal aliens from the country and prosecuting illegal aliens for crimes committed within U.S. jurisdiction,
the memo saysThe Justice Department’s responsibility, proudly shouldered by each of its employees, includes aggressive enforcement of laws enacted by Congress, as well as vigorous defense of the President’s actions on behalf of the United States against legal challenges,
Bove addedThe most serious charges are those punishable by death where applicable, and offenses with the most significant mandatory minimum sentences,
Bove wrote