Trump administration sues states for denying ICE agents undercover plates

The administration of United States President Donald Trump has filed lawsuits against four Democrat-leaning states for refusing to issue confidential licence plates for vehicles carrying federal immigration agents. On Thursday, the Department of Justice announced the complaint on its website , accusing Maine, Massachusetts, Oregon and Washington of defying the federal government’s demands. Recommended Stories list of 3 items end of list Undercover licence plates, it argued, were necessary for the “operational effectiveness and safety” of agents “who have faced a wave of targeted harassment”. But officials in the states have pushed back, arguing that agents for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) should not be allowed to carry out their activities in secret, without proper oversight. The clash comes as Trump carries out a mass deportation campaign that critics have accused of human rights violations, including unwarranted violence, illegal arrests and denial of due process rights. Obscuring agents’ identities The Trump administration, however, has used concerns about ICE safety to crack down on efforts to identify agents. Over the last year, for instance, the administration has pressured tech companies like Apple and Google to remove apps that tracked ICE agents, citing the risk of violence. …