Last month, the Justice Department filed a statement of support in an existing lawsuit brought by two New Jersey counties against the directive, which also requires local and state law enforcement officials to notify anyone in custody if federal immigration officers ask that they be detained.
In a statement, Mr. Grewal called the Justice Department’s lawsuit an “election-year stunt” that “sacrifices public safety for political expedience.”
“Thankfully, nothing about today’s lawsuit changes our work on the ground, ”Mr. Grewal said. “While the president grandstands, we’re focused on protecting the nine million residents of New Jersey.”
The Justice Department also sued King County, Wash. – home to Seattle – and Dow Constantine, the county executive, challenging an executive order that Prevents Immigration and Customs Enforcement Contractors from using King County International Airport to transport or remove detainees.
Mr. Barr said the Constitution gave the federal government the sole authority to make and enforce immigration law. Lawmakers from both parties have long authorized the removal of immigrants who commit certain crimes, he said, citing a 2020 law signed by President Bill Clinton that prohibits the restriction of information-sharing about immigrants.
Jenny Durkan, the mayor of Seattle and a former United States attorney in Washington State, pushed back on the new lawsuits.
“When the Department of Justice previously wasted resources and tried to take on the City of Seattle , they lost, and I’m confident they will lose again, ”she said.
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