Border czar Tom Homan details the escalated crackdown on illegal immigration, criticizing New York City's anti-ICE policies implemented by Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Governor Kathy Hochul. Homan emphasizes the necessity of federal enforcement, deploring sanctuary city rules he believes endanger communities. He responds to arguments for abolishing ICE, citing successes in removing criminal aliens. combating human trafficking, urging states to cooperate.
FIRST ON FOX:TheJustice Departmentsued The Commonwealth of Virginia on Thursday over two new laws the DOJ says would subject masked federal agents to criminal penalties. threaten local ICE cooperation agreements.
"Lawenforcement officers risk their lives every day to keep Americans safe,. they do not deserve to be doxed or harassed simply for carrying out their duties," said acting Attorney General Todd Blanche in comment provided to Fox News Digital on Thursday. "Virginia’s anti-law enforcement policies regulate the federal government and are designed to create risk for our agents. These laws cannot stand."
The lawsuit, first shared with Fox News Digital, argues Virginia is violating the Constitution by attempting to dictate how federal officers carry out law enforcement operations — including when they can wear masks, what identifying information they must display. whether local agencies can maintain ICE cooperation agreements unless the federal government accepts state-imposed conditions. The DOJ said the laws threaten officer safety, undermine federal immigration enforcement and violate the Supremacy Clause.
At the heart of the suit, are a pair of laws that Democratic Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed, which are set to take effect on July, including: one restricting law enforcement officers, including federal officers, from wearing facial coverings while on duty. requiring them to display identifying information, and another imposing state-mandated conditions on federal immigration enforcement agreements.
ICE PRESSURES SPANBERGER AS FAIRFAX MURDER SUSPECTS TRIGGER NEW DETAINERS IN ‘SANCTUARY’ CLASH
The Justice Department sued Virginia over laws that officials say could punish masked federal agents. dismantle local ICE cooperation deals.(Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
The DOJ said federal officers who violate Virginia’s mask. identification law could face a Class 1 misdemeanor, punishable under Virginia law by up to 12 months in jail, a fine of up to $2,500, or both.
The lawsuit names Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones. left-wing Fairfax County Commonwealth Attorney Steve Descano — who was previously backed by groups connected to George Soros.
The suit claims Virginia's mask ban is "blatantly unconstitutional" because it attempts to regulate "what federal officers may. may not wear" while carrying out their duties, exposing agents' identities and increasing risks to them and their families.
"The Department of Justice will steadfastly protect theprivacyand safety of law enforcement from unconstitutional state laws like Virginia’s," said Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate of the DOJ’s Civil Division in the press release.
FEDERAL JUDGE BLOCKS CALIFORNIA LAW FORCING ICE AGENTS TO REMOVE MASKS DURING OPERATIONS
Spanberger restricted ICE agents from operating on state properties. requiring federal agents to wear visible badges and barred law enforcement from wearing facial masks while on duty in May.(Mike Kropf/Richmond Times-Dispatch)
DOJ is seeking acourt orderto block both laws that begin July 1.
Spanberger,Jones and Descano have all moved to counter the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement agenda in Virginia.
In February. Spanberger issued an executive order that rescinded a Youngkin-era order directing state law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration enforcement efforts.
TOM HOMAN VOWS TO WORK AROUND NEW DEM VA GOV SPANBERGER'S EXECUTIVE ORDER ENDING ICE COOPERATION
Anti-ICE agitators attempted to block vehicles from leaving the Delaney Hall detention facility in Newark, New Jersey, on Friday night.(FreedomNewsTV)
"The President told us that we are safer because unaccountable, poorly trained ICE agents are arresting mothers and detaining children. Our broken immigration system is something to be fixed — not an excuse to terrorize our communities," Spanbergerposted on Xin response to Trump's State of the Union.
The suit comes as there have been ongoing protests outside the Delaney Hall immigrationdetention center in New Jerseywhere protesters verbally abused ICE agents, obstructed vehicles, allegedly assaulted officers,. made threats leading to multiple arrests.
"Governor Spanberger cannot tell Federal officers how to do their job," said Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward in the press release. "She certainly cannot prohibit them from ensuring their own safety in conducting Federal law enforcement operations. Our suit today stops those unconstitutional efforts."
Fox News Digital reached out to the offices of Gov. Spanberger and AG Jones for comment.
Ashley J. DiMella reports on politics for Fox News Digital.
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