Prof. Richard Painter Interviewed by CNN About Federal Lawsuits Against Sanctuary Law Cities and States

Professor Richard Painter, S. Walter Richey Professor of Corporate Law, was interviewed by CNN about federal lawsuits against cities and states that refuse to aid the administration’s immigration agenda including sanctuary city lawsuits. The litigation largely deals with prohibitions blocking state or local officials from sharing certain information with federal officials – including dates of release for undocumented immigrants who have been arrested or detained by local authorities. Many courts have issued rulings siding with cities and states with some of the decisions invoking the anticommandeering doctrine, which says the U.S. government cannot force states to carry out its enforcement of federal regimes, but courts have also found at times no actual conflict between federal law and the local policies. Professor Painter said, “The administration is likely to lose in areas where they’re trying to force the states to affirmatively do something that Congress does not require the states to do.”