DOJ escalates blue-state ICE standoff after states refuse key federal request

The Department of Justice filed lawsuits against four states—Maine, Massachusetts, Oregon, and Washington—over their refusal to issue undercover license plates to ICE agents. The DOJ claims the states' refusal violates the Constitution's Supremacy Clause by unlawfully discriminating against federal law enforcement, while the states argue they are not obligated to assist with civil immigration enforcement.