Attorney General Charity Clark, together with the attorneys general from twelve other states, has issued a joint statement in response to a memorandum from a Trump political appointee at the U.S. Department of Justice. The statement addresses the role of state and local law enforcement in federal immigration enforcement.
The joint statement emphasizes that "it is well-established—through longstanding Supreme Court precedent—that the U.S. Constitution prevents the federal government from commandeering states to enforce federal laws." The attorneys general refer to the Supreme Court case Printz v. United States, which ruled that the federal government cannot require state police officers to enforce federal laws without compensation.
The statement further criticizes actions by President Trump, asserting that "despite what he may say to the contrary, the President cannot unilaterally re-write the Constitution." It accuses him of making "troubling threats" to use the Department of Justice's resources against public servants who are complying with their state laws. These threats, according to the statement, interfere with law enforcement's ability to build trust within their communities.
The attorneys general also reaffirm their commitment to enforcing state laws independently of federal immigration status: "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 group warns that while current threats are only "empty words on paper," they are prepared to respond if any illegal actions occur.