No Borders NewsOn January 23, 2025, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul joined 12 other state attorneys general in a joint statement responding to a U.S. Department of Justice memorandum from a Trump political appointee about state and local involvement in federal immigration enforcement.
The attorneys general argue that the U.S. Constitution limits the federal government from forcing states to use their police resources for federal immigration purposes. They cite long-standing Supreme Court precedent, including the idea from Printz v. United States that the federal government cannot require states to provide officers “at no cost” to the federal government.
The statement also warns against what it describes as threats to use federal prosecutorial power to pressure state and local public servants who are following state law. The coalition says these are currently “empty words,” but they say they will respond if the threats turn into illegal actions.
The attorneys general say their responsibility is to enforce state laws and to investigate and prosecute crimes regardless of a person’s immigration status. They also say they will not be distracted by any “mass deportation agenda.”
This is a policy and legal position statement, not a court order. For the most accurate details about the DOJ memorandum they referenced, readers should consult the official DOJ document and the full text of the coalition statement.