The Trump Administration’s Department of Justice on April 24 filed a lawsuit against New York City, Mayor Eric Adams, and several other city officials to challenge New York’s sanctuary city laws. The federal government is asking the court to overturn New York City laws that make it a sanctuary city as well as awarding the federal government costs involved in bringing the action and any other relief the court deems proper.
The DOJ charges in the complaint that New York’s sanctuary policies have allowed dangerous criminals to roam the streets and commit heinous crimes within the community. The federal government claims that these policies reflect an intentional effort to obstruct federal law enforcement and thus are preempted under the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution.
“New York City has released thousands of criminals on the streets to commit violent crimes against law-abiding citizens due to sanctuary city policies,” said Attorney General Pam Bondi. “If New York City won’t stand up for the safety of its citizens, we will.”
“For too long, New York City has been at the vanguard of interfering with enforcing our immigration laws,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate. “Its efforts to thwart federal immigration enforcement end now.”
“The impact of New York City’s Sanctuary Provisions has been profound and frequently puts ICE officers in considerable risk of physical danger,” the lawsuit says. “New York City has long been at the vanguard of interfering with enforcing this country’s immigration laws. Its history as a sanctuary city dates back to 1989, and its efforts to thwart federal immigration enforcement have only intensified since.”
The case, filed in the Eastern District of New York, is the latest action from the Justice Department against cities that have been resisting actions the Trump Administration has been taking against immigrants. In the past three months, the Department of Justice has filed lawsuits against Los Angeles, New York state, Colorado, Illinois, the city of Rochester and several New Jersey cities to invalidate unconstitutional sanctuary policies. Recently, the Mayor of Louisville revoked the city’s sanctuary policy after the Justice Department threatened legal action.
