Attorney General Knudsen responds to Helena City Commission letter

HELENA – Attorney General Austin Knudsen today responded to the Helena City Commission’s April 1 letter regarding their repealed Resolution 21062 that would have prevented local law enforcement officers from assisting federal immigration law enforcement operations. In his response, Attorney General Knudsen notifies the city the investigation is closed since the resolution was repealed and reminds the city that local governments do not get to set their own immigration policies, per Montana law.

“Although I appreciate the City’s offer to work together on its next foray into immigration matters, it rests upon a fundamental misunderstanding about Montana law and the role of the Attorney General.  So let me take this opportunity to disabuse the City (and other localities) of the notion that compliance with Montana’s anti-sanctuary city law is a collaborative enterprise.  The Legislature was clear when it enacted Mont. Code Ann. 2-1-602: local governments don’t get to set their own immigration policies,” Attorney General Knudsen wrote. “Should the City choose to waste additional taxpayer resources by adopting another ordinance, my office will evaluate that policy for compliance with state law.”