Trump Administration Accuses Washington of Denying Cooperation with ICE
Federal and state authorities in Washington are locked in a legal dispute over the Keep Washington Working Act, a state law restricting local law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has sided with Adams County in its challenge to this legislation, asserting that it conflicts with federal immigration law.
Washington Attorney General Nick Brown has come under criticism from the Trump administration for allegedly failing to cooperate with federal immigration agencies. In a recent filing, the DOJ sought the support of a federal judge, arguing that the Keep Washington Working Act impedes federal law enforcement.
Senior DOJ litigation counsel J. Max Weintraub claimed that the state-level Act contravenes the Supremacy Clause of the US Constitution, interfering with the federal Immigration and National Act. Weintraub stated, "KWW has actively facilitated the evasion of federal law in Washington."
Brown's lawsuit against Adams County, filed last year, alleges that local deputies routinely violated the Keep Washington Working Act by arresting individuals solely for immigration violations and sharing residents' personal information with federal authorities. In response, Adams County and the DOJ employ the same arguments, according to Brown.
Brown maintained that there is no conflict between the Keep Washington Working Act and federal law. He indicated that he looks forward to presenting his case in court. The lawsuit, originally filed in a state court, has since been transferred to a federal district court. Brown has requested the case's return to the state court, as the allegations concern only purported violations of state law.
Earlier this month, Brown also wrote a letter to the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary, which is investigating the legality of the Keep Washington Working Act. Brown emphasized that Washington, as a sovereign state, should not be forced to bear the costs of enforcing federal immigration law. He argued that local police should not engage in immigration enforcement absent federal law mandating it or instances where public safety is directly implicated.
The enmity between Washington state and federal authorities over the Keep Washington Working Act highlights the ongoing debate over immigration enforcement and states' rights. As the legal battle unfolds in the courts, both sides are steadfast in their positions.
- The ongoing legal dispute between Washington authorities and the US Department of Justice (DOJ) over the Keep Washington Working Act is rooted in the DOJ's argument that the state law conflicts with federal immigration law.
- In response to the DOJ's claims, Washington Attorney General Nick Brown has emphasized that there is no conflict between the Keep Washington Working Act and federal law, asserting that the law does not impede federal law enforcement.
- The enmity between Washington state and federal authorities over the Keep Washington Working Act is part of a larger debate encompassing immigration enforcement, policy-and-legislation, politics, war-and-conflicts, general-news, and crime-and-justice.
