DOJ sues New York City over ‘sanctuary’ policies

The Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a lawsuit Thursday against New York City, as well as Mayor Eric Adams (D) and other city leaders, to challenge laws that protect undocumented migrants in the city.

“New York City has released thousands of criminals on the streets to commit violent crimes against law-abiding citizens due to sanctuary city policies,” Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement. “If New York City won’t stand up for the safety of its citizens, we will.”

The DOJ accused city leaders of “efforts to thwart federal immigration enforcement.”

“New York City has long been at the vanguard of interfering with enforcing this country’s
immigration laws,” the DOJ wrote in its lawsuit. “Its history as a sanctuary city dates back to 1989, and its efforts to thwart federal immigration enforcement have only intensified since.”

It cited city ordinances that block local authorities from working with federal immigration officials when unauthorized migrants are detained.

Adams’s office didn’t immediately respond to The Hill’s request for comment on the suit.

The DOJ is seeking an injunction against the city to block protections for immigrants.

President Trump’s DOJ has filed similar suits against other Democratic-led jurisdictions, including New York State, Colorado and Illinois, as well as Chicago, Los Angeles, Newark and multiple cities in New Jersey.