The Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against the state of Maryland, accusing it of engaging in an "active and deliberate effort" to obstruct federal immigration enforcement.
The lawsuit, filed in Maryland federal court, targets the Community Trust Act, a state law passed this year that the DOJ argues "jeopardizes the public safety for all Americans" by thwarting immigration-related arrests and deportations.
The act, which was not signed into law by Governor Wes Moore but became law due to his inaction, has been criticized by local law enforcement officials who claim it interferes with their ability to coordinate with federal immigration officers.
In a statement, Associate U.S. Attorney General Stanley Woodward emphasized that federal immigration officers merely enforce the laws passed by Congress, and that the Department of Justice will not stand for states that deliberately thwart those laws.
The lawsuit also claims that the Community Trust Act violates the supremacy clause of the Constitution, which requires state laws to be compliant with federal law.
In support of its claims, the DOJ points to an incident in May when a Worcester County Jail warden told a detention and deportation officer that the jail would no longer honor ICE detainers or release individuals to ICE custody due to the Community Trust Act.
The act, which prohibits the transfer of individuals into federal custody without a "valid judicial warrant," has been criticized by the DOJ for not allowing for administrative warrants, which are used in immigration law to make arrests.
Many local law enforcement officials in Maryland agree with the federal government's assessment of the Community Trust Act, with 17 of the state's 24 sheriffs suing the state to have the law overturned.
The sheriffs claim that the law interferes with their ability to coordinate with federal immigration officers and that it poses a threat to public safety.
Despite the criticism, Governor Moore's office has defended the Community Trust Act, arguing that it keeps local law enforcement focused on reducing violent crime and allows for coordination with federal immigration officers when necessary.
