The Trump administration has recently taken similar legal action against New York state, Rochester, Colorado, Los Angeles, and other jurisdictions with comparable sanctuary policies. (Wikimedia Commons Photo/ Representational)
The Trump administration has filed a federal lawsuit against New York City, arguing that its long-standing “sanctuary city” policies are obstructing immigration enforcement and, in one recent case, put the life of a US officer at risk.
The lawsuit, announced by Attorney General Pamela Bondi on Thursday, is part of a broader effort by the Justice Department to challenge local and state laws that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
“New York City has released thousands of criminals on the streets to commit violent crimes against law-abiding citizens due to sanctuary city policies. If New York City won’t stand up for the safety of its citizens, we will,” Bondi said in a statement, reported AP.
The lawsuit comes on the heels of a high-profile shooting that left an off-duty US Customs and Border Protection officer injured. Over the weekend, the officer had been sitting with a woman beneath the George Washington Bridge in Manhattan when two men on a moped approached them. A gunfight followed, during which the officer was shot in the face and arm. One suspect was wounded in the groin and leg.
Authorities said both suspects had entered the country illegally from the Dominican Republic and had multiple prior arrests. The lawsuit claims one of the men had been released following a 2024 arrest, despite an active detainer request from immigration officials, a decision it links directly to the city’s sanctuary policies.
The lawsuit names Mayor Eric Adams, Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, and several other city officials and agencies. At the heart of the case are policies that prevent local law enforcement from honouring civil immigration detainers, requests to hold individuals beyond their scheduled release so federal immigration authorities can take custody.
The administration argues these policies violate the Supremacy Clause of the US Constitution by interfering with federal law. The complaint accuses the city of deliberately obstructing enforcement efforts, stating: “New York City has long been at the vanguard of interfering with enforcing this country’s immigration laws.”
The suit further notes that the city’s sanctuary status dates back to 1989 and that its efforts to limit federal involvement have only increased in recent years.
Mayor Adams has not rejected the city’s sanctuary approach but has called for a reassessment in specific cases involving violent offenders.
“The mayor supports the essence of the city’s sanctuary policies but has urged the City Council to reexamine them to ensure we can effectively work with the federal government to make our city safer,” said spokesperson Kayla Mamelak Altus. “So far, the Council has refused.”
The New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) dismissed the federal lawsuit as an attempt to co-opt local resources for what it sees as an aggressive immigration agenda.
“New York City’s long-standing sanctuary laws have made it safer, boosted the economy, and strengthened communities,” said NYCLU Executive Director Donna Lieberman. “The city isn’t obligated to divert resources for the Trump regime’s cruel and lawless deportation campaign.”
This isn’t the first lawsuit of its kind. The Trump administration has recently taken similar legal action against New York state, Rochester, Colorado, Los Angeles, and other jurisdictions with comparable sanctuary policies. All the cases challenge what the administration sees as interference with federal immigration operations.
(With inputs from AP)
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