Trump DOJ Directs Prosecutors to Investigate Sanctuary Cities, Shifts Resources from Counterterrorism

Jan 22, 2025, 01:45 PM

The U.S. Department of Justice, under the Trump administration, has directed federal prosecutors to investigate state and local officials who obstruct enforcement of federal immigration laws, according to an internal memo obtained by the Associated Press. Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove issued the memo instructing prosecutors to "take all appropriate actions" against jurisdictions that impede immigration enforcement efforts. The directive signals a potential legal challenge against sanctuary cities and states that resist federal immigration policies. Additionally, the DOJ is reallocating resources from counterterrorism to immigration enforcement, a move that is likely to prompt strife with local and state law enforcement agencies, particularly those involved in Joint Terrorism Task Forces across the country.