The Justice Department has instructed federal prosecutors to investigate state and local officials who may be obstructing the Trump administration's efforts to enforce immigration laws. In a memo obtained by the Associated Press, Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove directed prosecutors to target resistance to the administration's deportation and border enforcement initiatives, emphasizing the urgency of aggressive federal action.
The memo, distributed to the entire Justice Department workforce, marks a sharp shift in priorities under President Donald Trump. "Federal law prohibits state and local actors from resisting, obstructing, and otherwise failing to comply with lawful immigration-related commands and requests," Bove wrote.
Bove further stated, "The U.S. Attorney's Offices and litigating components of the Department of Justice shall investigate incidents involving any such misconduct for potential prosecution." He also instructed the department's civil division to identify state and local policies that may hinder federal immigration enforcement and prepare to challenge them in court.
The directive underscores the administration's broader focus on cracking down on illegal immigration and associated crimes, including violent offenses, transnational gangs, and drug trafficking. Prosecutors shall "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 stated.
In New York City, where immigration enforcement has become a contentious issue, Mayor Eric Adams acknowledged the federal government's authority over immigration policy. "People who commit violent crimes must be held accountable," Adams said during a press conference, adding that the city is already in communication with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). "We already have task forces with our federal partner," Adams noted, despite emphasizing his reluctance to actively assist federal deportation efforts.
The directive also called for a return to a long-standing Republican policy of charging defendants with the most serious provable offenses, a principle designed to maximize penalties. "The most serious charges are those punishable by death where applicable, and offenses with the most significant mandatory minimum sentences," Bove wrote.
This approach mirrors enforcement strategies under previous Republican administrations, including those led by Attorneys General John Ashcroft and Jeff Sessions. However, it departs sharply from policies under Democratic administrations, such as those of Eric Holder and Merrick Garland, which prioritized prosecutorial discretion.
The memo reflects the Justice Department's role in executing President Trump's policy vision, which Bove described as aligned with the will of the electorate. "It is the responsibility of the Justice Department to defend the Constitution and to lawfully execute the policies that the American people elected President Trump to implement," Bove wrote.
The Justice Department's actions are part of an administration-wide effort to reshape immigration policy. Within hours of taking office, Trump signed an executive order to end birthright citizenship and declared a national emergency at the U.S.-Mexico border. These moves have prompted concern among immigrant communities, particularly in cities like New York, where tens of thousands of migrants receive city shelter services.
The crackdown has already begun to take effect. Reports from Chicago indicated that the first round of immigration raids occurred over the weekend. Meanwhile, asylum seekers and undocumented immigrants are bracing for additional enforcement measures.
