Lawrence Gets Threatened With DOJ Subpoena

LAWRENCE, MA — The Department of Justice on Wednesday sent letters to 23 jurisdictions demanding that they produce documents that could show whether they are unlawfully restricting information sharing by its law enforcement officers with federal immigration authorities. Lawrence was the recipient of one of the letters.

In a press release, the DOJ said they had previously contacted all 23 jurisdictions. In the letters, the DOJ said that if the jurisdictions fail to respond completely or in a timely manner, they would be subject to a subpoena from the Department of Justice.

"I continue to urge all jurisdictions under review to reconsider policies that place the safety of their communities and their residents at risk," Attorney General Jeff Sessions said in a press release. "Protecting criminal aliens from federal immigration authorities defies common sense and undermines the rule of law. We have seen too many examples of the threat to public safety represented by jurisdictions that actively thwart the federal government's immigration enforcement—enough is enough."

This isn't the first time Lawrence, a heavily Hispanic city, has tangled with the DOJ.

ALSO: Wait, The Mayor Of Which MA City Is Meeting With Trump

The others jurisdictions that received the letters are:

• Chicago, Illinois;
• Cook County, Illinois;
• New York City, New York;
• State of California;
• Albany, New York;
• Berkeley, California;
• Bernalillo County, New Mexico;
• Burlington, Vermont;
• City and County of Denver, Colorado;
• Fremont, California;
• Jackson, Mississippi;
• King County, Washington;
• City of Los Angeles, California;
• Louisville Metro, Kentucky;
• Monterey County, California;
• Sacramento County, California;
• City and County of San Francisco, California;
• Sonoma County, California;
• Watsonville, California;
• West Palm Beach, Florida;
• State of Illinois;
• State of Oregon.

The DOJ says that when it previously contacted these jurisdictions, it raised concerns "about laws, policies, or practices that may violate 8 U.S.C. 1373, a federal statute that promotes information sharing related to immigration enforcement and with which compliance is a condition of FY2016 and FY2017 Byrne JAG awards."

News of the DOJ letters came on the same day that mayors from across the United States were set to meet with President Donald Trump and now at least two mayors have pulled out of the meeting. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said he would not attend after the DOJ "decided to renew their racist assault on our immigrant community."

New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu, who is the president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, also said he would not attend.

Photo by Jacquelyn Martin/Associated Press

Story by Feroze Dhanoa, Patch Staff