A memo asserts that state and local officials are bound to cooperate and could face criminal prosecution or civil penalties if they fail to comply.

The Justice Department is directing its federal prosecutors to investigate for potential criminal charges any state or local officials who stand in the way of beefed-up enforcement of immigration laws under the Trump administration.

U.S. attorneys’ offices were told to investigate any official who defies federal immigration enforcement efforts and consider prosecuting them.

A memo from the acting deputy attorney general instructs officials to identify state and local laws and policies that “threaten to impede” the Trump administration's immigration efforts.

The Justice Department threatened in a new memo to prosecute local officials who refuse to help President Trump carry out his immigration agenda. The directive raised the possibility of clashes between the Trump administration and Democrats in so-called sanctuary cities and states.

The directives to Justice Department employees could face fierce blowback from legal advocacy groups and officials in cities and states led by Democrats.

The DOJ instructed prosecutors to pursue criminal charges against officials obstructing federal immigration enforcement.

The Justice Department's new leadership directed prosecutors to potentially charge state or local officials who impede President Trump's immigration policies.

The Trump administration is directing the Justice Department to dramatically boost its efforts on immigration enforcement, making it an agency top priority.