The Justice Department said Thursday it has sued four states for allegedly violating the United States Constitution by failing to provide undercover federal law enforcement agents with license plates.

The lawsuits come after DOJ Civil Division Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate wrote letters to Washington state, Maine, Oregon and Massachusetts, earlier this month, urging them to rescind policies blocking federal officers from obtaining undercover license plates in the states by no later than May 22.

The lawsuits, filed Wednesday, allege that the state policies threaten the operational effectiveness and safety of federal agents who have faced a wave of targeted harassment under the Trump administration.

“This Department of Justice will exercise any and all lawful authorities to support the brave men and women of law enforcement,” Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a statement. “Law enforcement officers risk their lives every day to keep Americans safe and must be able to carry out their duties effectively. 

"By denying undercover license plates to DHS components ... while issuing them to their own state agencies, these governors are pursuing discriminatory and obstructionist policies against federal law enforcement," he continued. "These actions undermine federal immigration enforcement, allow dangerous criminals to escape justice and terrorize American communities.”

The Justice Department has claimed the state policies violate the Supremacy Clause of the Constitution, which dictates that the Constitution and federal laws pursuant to it supersede state laws.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.