Attorney General Anne Lopez, along with her counterparts from ten other states, issued a joint statement concerning a memorandum from a Trump political appointee at the U.S. Department of Justice. The statement addresses state and local involvement in federal immigration enforcement.
The attorneys general emphasized that “it is well-established—through longstanding Supreme Court precedent—that the U.S. Constitution prevents the federal government from commandeering states to enforce federal laws.” They referenced the court ruling in Printz v. United States, which determined that “the federal government cannot ‘impress into its service—and at no cost to itself—the police officers of the 50 States.’” This principle highlights the balance of power between federal and state governments as central to American federalism.
The joint statement also criticized recent threats made by the President to use the Department of Justice’s resources against public servants who comply with state laws. These actions are seen as potentially harmful to community trust and law enforcement efforts. The attorneys general assured that they would respond if these threats materialize into illegal actions.
They reaffirmed their commitment to enforcing state laws, regardless of immigration status, stating they will not be distracted by what they termed as “the President’s mass deportation agenda.”
Special Assistant Dave Day and Solicitor General Kalikoʻonālani Fernandes echoed Attorney General Lopez’s position: “Attorney General Lopez has clearly stated that her role is to fight to uphold the rule of law when necessary.” They added that “the Department of the Attorney General will proudly stand up for the right of Hawaiʻi to assert itself within our federal structure of government.”
