The Trump administration has filed lawsuits against four states for refusing to issue undercover license plates to federal agents. The states involved are Maine, Massachusetts, Oregon, and Washington. The U.S. Department of Justice claims these states impose unconstitutional restrictions that hinder law enforcement efforts and risk agent safety.
Interim Attorney General Todd Blanche stated that by denying undercover plates to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) components like ICE, while granting them to state agencies, these states foster discriminatory policies. He argued this undermines federal immigration law enforcement and endangers communities by allowing dangerous criminals to evade justice.
The lawsuits were filed in federal district courts within the states. The Department of Justice contends that these states try to obstruct federal immigration enforcement, despite federal control over immigration and border management being exclusive. The lawsuits cite the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution, which prevents states from regulating federal law enforcement.
Maine’s Secretary of State, Shenna Bellows, who manages the state’s license plate program, expressed confidence in courtroom defense. She criticized ICE for terrorizing communities in Maine and reiterated that secret police have no place in a democracy, promising to defend Mainers’ security and freedom.
A representative for Massachusetts Attorney General Joy Campbell said state lawyers are reviewing the case to defend the RMV’s policies. Officials in Washington and Oregon did not comment on the federal actions.
The Department of Justice claims federal agents, frequently dealing with violent criminals like cartel members and human traffickers, face increased harassment and potential physical harm if easily identifiable.
The lawsuits follow exchanges between the Justice Department and state officials. Earlier, letters demanding policy justification were sent to state officials. Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey defended the state’s policies, highlighting incidents of federal misconduct related to civil immigration enforcement.
Earlier this year, Bellows paused confidential plate issuance, citing concerns over misuse in immigration enforcement. The federal lawsuit argues Maine’s long-standing practice of issuing confidential plates includes no equivalent demands on state agencies, rendering the program discriminatory against the federal government.
Bellows previously declined confidential license plate requests from ICE, emphasizing Maine’s stance against facilitating undercover civil immigration enforcement.
The license plate lawsuit mirrors ongoing debates over masked agents during deployments in U.S. cities. This issue arose during a government shutdown when Democrats challenged federal deportation methods, following incidents involving masked federal agents in Minnesota. A federal court has since blocked California’s attempt to ban face masks in law enforcement.
The administration also opposes sanctuary cities where local authorities do not assist federal immigration operations. Blanche has instructed the Department of Justice’s Civil Division to identify any state or local laws and practices that might hinder what the government views as legal federal operations.
Contributors to this report include Barrow from Atlanta and Whittle from Scarborough, Maine. This article was translated with the help of an AI-powered tool.