The US Department of Justice has filed lawsuits against Maine, Massachusetts, Oregon and Washington state for refusing to issue confidential licence plates to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. The Trump administration argues that the states have long provided such plates to other law enforcement agencies for undercover operations and are now unlawfully discriminating against the federal government.
ICE seeks the plates to carry out arrests as part of President Trump's immigration crackdown. The lawsuits follow threats made by assistant US attorney general Brett Shumate, who warned state officials earlier this month that legal action would be taken if policies were not changed.
The justice department contends that the states' policies violate the US constitution by treating ICE and other Department of Homeland Security components differently from state and local law enforcement. It also claims the policies endanger federal agents by exposing them to harassment, tracking and assaults during arrests.
Acting US attorney general Todd Blanche said in a statement: 'Law enforcement officers risk their lives every day to keep Americans safe and must be able to carry out their duties effectively.'
Democratic governors in the affected states defended their policies. Massachusetts governor Maura Healey said the state supports legitimate criminal investigative work but not 'unconstitutional tactics' from ICE. Maine attorney general Aaron Frey and Oregon governor Tina Kotek also issued statements defending their states' positions, with Oregon temporarily pausing new undercover plates pending a policy review.
