DOJ Files Landmark Lawsuit Against NYC Over Sanctuary Policies
DOJ Files Landmark Lawsuit Against NYC Over Sanctuary Policies
The U.S. Justice Department has filed a lawsuit against New York City, Mayor Eric Adams, and other city officials, challenging the city’s ‘sanctuary’ immigration policies. The suit, filed Thursday in the Eastern District of New York, contends that these policies amount to an ‘intentional effort’ to obstruct federal immigration enforcement, violating the Constitution’s Supremacy Clause.
Attorney General Pam Bondi stated, “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.”
The lawsuit targets various provisions of New York City code, including a 2011 rule preventing the Department of Correction from honoring civil immigration detainers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and NYPD rules that restrict cooperation with federal immigration authorities. It also cites a recent incident involving the shooting of an off-duty U.S. Border Patrol agent by an undocumented migrant with a criminal record.
A spokesperson for Mayor Adams indicated the city is reviewing the lawsuit. While supporting the core intent of local laws to ensure New Yorkers feel safe, the mayor believes the City Council should ‘reexamine’ policies that hinder cooperation with the federal government in dealing with violent criminals, a move the Council has reportedly refused so far.
This legal challenge follows similar suits filed by the DOJ against other jurisdictions, including Los Angeles, Colorado, Illinois, and New Jersey, as well as a previous one targeting New York state policies.
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