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The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced a new grant program for local law enforcement agencies across the nation if they help enforce immigration law operations.
It’s entitled the “Assisting Neighborhoods and Governments with Enforcement of Laws” (ANGEL) Grant Program, a $25 million program that will approve grants of up to $500,000 per agency, according to a DOJ Sept 24 media release.
“This funding opportunity is a way for local law enforcement to honor victims and counter the dangerous sanctuary policies that have decimated public safety in so many states,” said Associate Attorney General Stanley E. Woodward, Jr. “The Trump Administration and this Department of Justice want to ensure local law enforcement have the resources they need to ensure the deaths of innocent Americans never happen again. To the departments whose states have failed to provide you with the support you need to conduct law enforcement or immigration enforcement and to protect your communities from murders and trafficking: this program is for you.”
That’s a direct quote to Washington and other states that restrict local law enforcement’s involvement in enforcing immigration law. A quote disputed by the Washington State Attorney General’s Office.
“With regard to Washington state, Woodward’s characterization is callous and false,” said Mike Faulk, deputy communications director for the state Attorney General’s Office, in a Sept. 24 email to the Kent Reporter. “Washington law does not get in the way of local law enforcement’s ability to investigate ‘murders and trafficking.’ More specifically, our office lends support and expertise to local jurisdictions investigating such crimes when they request our assistance.”
The state Legislature adopted the Keep Washington Working Act in 2019 for the stated purpose of “ensuring the state of Washington remains a place where the rights and dignity of all residents are maintained and protected in order to keep Washington working,” according to the law. Among those changes, the act restricts the extent to which local law enforcement agencies may participate in the enforcement of federal immigration laws.
According to the DOJ, funding must be used by local law enforcement for:
• Locating and apprehending aliens who have committed a crime under federal, state, or local law, in addition to being unlawfully present in the United States (hereafter referred to as “criminal illegal aliens”).
• Collection and analysis of law enforcement investigative information within the United States to counter gang or other criminal activity.
• Investigating and prosecuting (a) crimes committed by aliens within the United States; and (b) drug and human trafficking crimes committed within the United States.
• Court operations related to the prosecution of (a) crimes committed by aliens; and (b) drug and human trafficking crimes.
• Temporary criminal detention of aliens.
• Transporting aliens described in paragraph (1) within the United States to locations related to the apprehension, detention, and prosecution of such aliens.
• Vehicle maintenance, logistics, transportation, and other support provided to law enforcement agencies by a state agency to enhance the ability to locate and apprehend aliens who have committed crimes under federal, state, or local law, in addition to being unlawfully present in the United States.
Eligible local law enforcement awards from this program will be used to support significant participation in and support of Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) activities and other DOJ efforts to combat gangs, cartels and other violent crime, according to the DOJ.
One of the requirements is that all applicants must provide a letter of support from DOJ through the US Attorney’s Office’s Lead Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) Attorney for the applicable HSTF, certifying the applicant is currently or intends to participate in HSTF activities or major DOJ operations.
Applicants must apply by Oct. 20. The DOJ expects to award 50 grants, which will be announced in December.
