Donald Trump's administration has reassigned about 20 senior career Justice Department attorneys, two sources familiar with the moves told Reuters, as the new president moves swiftly to shake up an arm of government that has long drawn his ire.

The Justice Department is directing its federal prosecutors to investigate for potential criminal charges against any state or local officials who stand in the way of beefed-up enforcement of immigration laws under the Trump administration.

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.

The directives to Justice Department employees could face fierce blowback from legal advocacy groups and officials in cities and states led by Democrats.

The Justice Department's new leadership directed prosecutors to potentially charge state or local officials who impede President Trump's immigration policies.

The Justice Department threatened in a new memo to prosecute local officials who refuse to help President Trump carry out his immigration agenda. The directive raised the possibility of clashes between the Trump administration and Democrats in so-called sanctuary cities and states.