A memo asserts that state and local officials are bound to cooperate and could face criminal prosecution or civil penalties if they fail to comply.

A memo from the acting deputy attorney general instructs officials to identify state and local laws and policies that “threaten to impede” the Trump administration's immigration efforts.

In his third day in office, President Donald Trump signed more executive orders aimed at shutting down the U.S. southern border to immigration and ramping up deportations — though large scale deportation raids had yet to materialize as of Wednesday afternoon.

In a new memo, a Justice Department official seeks to realign the department's positions on immigration with President Trump's executive actions — and threatens local officials who don't cooperate.

The BriefThe memo was written by acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove.Bove directs the Justice Department’s civil division to identify laws obstructing immigration enforcement.The memo focuses on challenging state and local policies that hinder deportation efforts.