In the complaint challenging Colorado and Denver sanctuary policies, the DOJ argues that the federal government has “preemptive authority to regulate immigration matters,” and claims that the policies were crafted “by intent and design” to obstruct federal immigration enforcement efforts.

The lawsuit, which names the governor and mayor as defendants, is the latest move by the White House to try to get local governments to cooperate more with its immigration agenda.

The lawsuit asks the U.S. District Court in Colorado to declare that several city and state policies are invalid, blocking the city and state from enforcing them. The laws and policies in question generally restrict the ability of state and local government employees to help with immigration enforcement.