Grand Theft America / Receipt power-2026-07-09-093
The Justice Department sues Maryland over its sanctuary policies
The Justice Department filed a lawsuit against Maryland and Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown over the state's sanctuary policies, which it said interfere with federal enforcement of immigration laws.
What happened
The department's release states that Acting Attorney General Blanche has instructed the Civil Division to identify state and local laws, policies and practices that facilitate violations of federal laws or impede lawful federal operations. The complaint alleges that Maryland's refusal to cooperate with federal immigration authorities has already had negative operational consequences, with facilities refusing to transfer people to federal custody even when presented with a routine detainer.
Why it matters
The suit is one output of a standing program: the Civil Division has been instructed to go looking for state and local laws to challenge, which makes the search, not any single filing, the mechanism.
Receipt details
- Phase 2
- Turn law enforcement inward
- Coerce states and localities
