About eight in 10 Americans, according to an Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll, believe increasing U.S.-Mexico border security should be a moderate or high priority for the federal government. The vast majority of respondents also favor deportation for immigrants who have been convicted of violent crimes.
From there, depending on the state and the individual, opinions vary on what should be done, how it should be done and who should be involved.
Clearly, President Donald Trump is interested in taking action quickly in several immigration sectors and emphasized that point by signing a number of executive orders on the subject on the day he was inaugurated earlier this week.
In order to carry out his plans, he will need the help of state and local authorities, and that’s where the rub comes. Many state and local authorities, mostly in areas run by Democrats, say immigration is a federal issue and they have no obligation to assist in enumerating, finding, holding and/or removing people who are illegally in the country.
However, a memo from Trump’s Justice Department begs to differ. It notes, “Federal law prohibits state and local actors from resisting, obstructing and otherwise failing to comply with lawful immigration-related commands and requests. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and litigating components of the Department of Justice shall investigate incidents involving any such misconduct for potential prosecution.”