Dems Propose State Laws to Limit ICE   01/15 06:23

   Democrats across the country are proposing state law changes to rein in 
federal immigration officers and protect the public following the shooting 
death of a protester in Minneapolis and the wounding of two people in Portland, 
Oregon.

   MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Democrats across the country are proposing state law 
changes to rein in federal immigration officers and protect the public 
following the shooting death of a protester in Minneapolis and the wounding of 
two people in Portland, Oregon.

   Many of the measures have been proposed in some form for years in 
Democratic-led states, but their momentum is growing as legislatures return to 
work amid President Donald Trump's national immigration crackdown following the 
killing of Renee Good by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent in 
Minneapolis. Republicans are pushing back, blaming protesters for impeding 
enforcement of immigration laws.

   Democratic bills seek to limit ICE

   Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul wants New York to allow people to sue federal 
officers alleging violations of their constitutional rights. Another measure 
aims to keep immigration agents lacking judicial warrants out of schools, 
hospitals and houses of worship.

   Oregon Democrats plan to introduce a bill to allow residents to sue federal 
agents for violating their Fourth Amendment rights against unlawful search and 
seizure.

   New Jersey's Democrat-led Legislature passed three bills on Monday that 
immigrant rights groups have long pushed for, including a measure prohibiting 
state law enforcement officers from cooperating with federal immigration 
enforcement. Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy has until his last day in office 
Tuesday to sign or veto them.

   California lawmakers are proposing to ban local and state law enforcement 
from taking second jobs with the Department of Homeland Security and make it a 
violation of state law when ICE officers make "indiscriminate" arrests around 
court appearances. Other measures are pending.

   "Where you have government actions with no accountability, that is not true 
democracy," Democratic state Sen. Scott Wiener of San Francisco said at a news 
conference.

   Democrats also push bills in red states

   Democrats in Georgia introduced four Senate bills designed to limit 
immigration enforcement -- a package unlikely to become law because Georgia's 
conservative upper chamber is led by Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, a close Trump ally. 
Democrats said it's still important to take a stand.

   "Donald Trump has unleashed brutal aggression on our families and our 
communities across our country," said state Sen. Sheikh Rahman, an immigrant 
from Bangladesh whose district in suburban Atlanta's Gwinnett County is home to 
many immigrants.

   Democrats in New Hampshire have proposed numerous measures seeking to limit 
federal immigration enforcement, but the state's Republican majorities passed a 
new law taking effect this month that bans "sanctuary cities."

   In Tennessee, instead of considering a Democratic measure that would limit 
civil immigration enforcement at schools and churches, Republican House Speaker 
Cameron Sexton said he was working with the White House on a separate package 
of immigration-related bills. He hasn't said what they would do.

   Trump administration sues to stop laws

   The Trump administration has opposed any effort to blunt ICE, including 
suing local governments whose "sanctuary" policies limit police interactions 
with federal officers.

   States have broad power to regulate within their borders unless the U.S. 
Constitution bars it, but many of these laws raise novel issues that courts 
will have to sort out, said Harrison Stark, senior counsel with the State 
Democracy Research Initiative at the University of Wisconsin Law School.

   "There's not a super clear, concrete legal answer to a lot of these 
questions," he said. "It's almost guaranteed there will be federal litigation 
over a lot of these policies."

   That's already happening.

   California in September was the first to ban most law enforcement officers, 
including federal immigration agents, from covering their faces on duty. The 
Justice Department said its agents won't comply and sued California, arguing 
that the laws threaten the safety of officers who are facing "unprecedented" 
harassment, doxing and violence.

   The Justice Department also sued Illinois last month, challenging a law that 
bars federal civil arrests near courthouses, protects medical records and 
regulates how universities and day care centers manage information about 
immigration status. The Justice Department claims the law is unconstitutional 
and also threatens federal officers' safety.

   Targeted states push back

   Minnesota and Illinois, joined by their largest cities, sued the Trump 
administration this week. Minneapolis and Minnesota accuse the Republican 
administration of violating free speech rights by punishing a progressive state 
that favors Democrats and welcomes immigrants. Illinois and Chicago claim 
"Operation Midway Blitz" made residents afraid to leave their homes.

   Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin accused Minnesota officials 
of ignoring public safety and called the Illinois lawsuit "baseless."