7/24/2017

IMMIGRATION/JUSTICE DEPARTMENT/SANCTUARY CITIES: “The highest court in Massachusetts dealt a fresh legal blow Monday [7-24-17] to the Trump administration’s effort to compel local authorities to assist in its crackdown against illegal immigration.
The state’s Supreme Judicial Court ruled that Massachusetts court officials can’t hold people in jail simply because the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency requests it.
ICE routinely issues these requests, called detainers, to local officials asking that they hold for up to 48 hours people who are suspected of being in the U.S. illegally. The Trump administration has labeled those that don’t comply ‘sanctuary’ jurisdictions and is looking for ways to compel cooperation.
While the decision applies only to Massachusetts, several federal appellate courts have issued similar rulings undercutting ICE’s authority. In addition, a federal court has blocked parts of a Trump executive order aimed at punishing sanctuary cities.
Justice Department spokesman Devin O’Malley didn’t address the decision directly in a statement, but he urged cities to cooperate with detainees to protect public safety.”

-Laura Mackler, “Massachusetts State Court Rules Against Immigration Detention Policy,” The Wall Street Journal online, July 24, 2017 05:29pm