Attorney General Nick Brown, joined by attorneys general from twelve other states, issued a joint statement addressing a memorandum from a Trump political appointee at the U.S. Department of Justice. The memorandum concerns state and local involvement in federal immigration enforcement.
The statement emphasizes the constitutional precedent set by the Supreme Court, which prevents the federal government from commandeering state resources to enforce federal laws. "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," reads the statement. The attorneys general refer to Printz v. United States, where it was ruled that the federal government cannot "impress into its service — and at no cost to itself — the police officers of the 50 States."
The joint statement also criticizes perceived threats from President Trump regarding using Department of Justice resources against public servants complying with state laws. It asserts that these threats are currently just words but warns that any illegal actions will be met with resistance: "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."
Furthermore, the attorneys general reaffirm their commitment to enforcing state laws independently of 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."