Justice Department Demands Four States Issue Vehicle Registrations to ICE for Undercover Use

The Justice Department said Wednesday that officials in four Democrat-led states are refusing to issue vehicle registrations to Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers working undercover. The department sent letters to the governors of Oregon and Massachusetts and the attorneys general in Washington and Maine demanding they revoke the policies.

Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate released the letters publicly and wrote on social media that the restrictions are dangerous, shameful and unconstitutional.

Vehicle registrations for undercover work allow agents to blend in with regular traffic while conducting operations with less visibility. Shumate said Oregon refuses to license any federal law enforcement vehicles. Maine will only grant a license after the federal agency proves the vehicle will not be used for immigration enforcement.

Washington issues registrations to some federal agencies but not those under Homeland Security. Massachusetts specifically targets ICE and offers civilian undercover registrations only if the agency proves the vehicles are for criminal investigations and not civil immigration enforcement. Treating federal agencies differently from state and local ones has created legal issues in the past.

A judge previously blocked a California law that barred federal immigration authorities from wearing masks while on duty, ruling that it violated the Constitution by discriminating against federal operations. Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche signaled that the states denying registrations would face similar legal action.