The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Jan. 21 directed prosecutors to investigate instances when state and local officials seek to obstruct immigration enforcement.
Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove said in a memorandum to all department employees that the U.S. Constitution requires state and local actors to comply with federal immigration enforcement and that federal law bars the actors from resisting, obstructing, and otherwise failing to comply with lawful immigration-related commands from the Executive Branch.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Offices and litigating components of the Department of Justice shall investigate incidents involving any such misconduct for potential prosecution, including for obstructing federal function” in violation of a law that prohibits conspiracy to commit an offense against or defraud the federal government, Bove said in the three-page document, a copy of which was published by Politico….