Office of Public Affairs | Justice Department Sues States for Denying Undercover License Plates to Federal Law Enforcement
On Wednesday, the Department of Justice filed lawsuits against Maine, Washington, Oregon, and Massachusetts challenging their unconstitutional policies denying confidential license plates to federal agents. This comes after each state refused to rescind their unconstitutional policies in response to a prompt letter from the Department explaining the policies’ illegality.
Not only are these policies unconstitutional, but, as alleged in the complaint, these policies threaten the operational effectiveness and safety of federal agents who have faced a wave of targeted harassment. If federal agents cannot use confidential plates, dangerous individuals can track and evade law enforcement. There is no justification for states to deny confidential license plates to federal agents.
“This Department of Justice will exercise any and all lawful authorities to support the brave men and women of law enforcement,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “Law enforcement officers risk their lives every day to keep Americans safe and must be able to carry out their duties effectively. By denying undercover license plates to DHS components, including ICE, while issuing them to their own state agencies, these governors are pursuing discriminatory and obstructionist policies against federal law enforcement. These actions undermine federal immigration enforcement, allow dangerous criminals to escape justice, and terrorize American communities.”
“The Department of Justice will steadfastly protect the operational effectiveness and safety of law enforcement from these unconstitutional state policies,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division.
Acting Attorney General Blanche has instructed the Department’s Civil Division to identify state and local laws, policies, and practices that facilitate violations of federal laws or impede lawful federal operations. This lawsuit is the latest in a series of lawsuits brought by the Civil Division targeting illegal policies designed to thwart federal law enforcement across the country.
