DOJ Orders States to Issue DHS Undercover Plates by May 22 or Face Litigation

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · May 14

May 22 is the deadline the Justice Department gave Washington and other sanctuary states to resume issuing undercover license plates for DHS agents or face court action.
Brett Shumate, a deputy assistant attorney general, said Washington’s licensing agency is denying DHS plates while still providing them to state and local police, which he called discriminatory and unconstitutional under the Supremacy Clause.
The department says forcing agents to use visible federal plates can expose identities, tip off suspects, jeopardize terrorism, drug and fraud investigations, and increase risks to officers and the public.
Maine has already paused new undercover plates for DHS, and Oregon and Massachusetts are also in DOJ’s sights, widening a clash between federal immigration enforcement and state sanctuary policies.

When does a state's right to refuse aid become an unconstitutional obstruction of federal law enforcement?

As federal-state surveillance conflicts grow, who is responsible for balancing agent safety against public rights?

Should federal agents demanding anonymity from states be allowed to use surveillance to identify private citizens?