On July 25, 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), under the Trump administration, filed a lawsuit against New York City, Mayor Eric Adams, and other city officials, challenging the city’s sanctuary city policies. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, argues that these policies violate the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution by obstructing federal immigration enforcement. The DOJ claims that New York City’s laws, which limit cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities, impede the federal government’s ability to enforce immigration laws and ensure public safety. 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,” emphasizing the administration’s view that these policies endanger public safety.
The lawsuit specifically targets city ordinances that prohibit local authorities from honoring civil immigration detainers without a judicial warrant and restrict information sharing with federal agents, such as release dates or custodial status of undocumented immigrants. The DOJ contends that these policies, dating back to 1989, have intensified over time and contribute to crime by allowing undocumented immigrants with criminal records to evade deportation. The suit cites a recent shooting of an off-duty U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer in Manhattan as an example, alleging that the suspects, undocumented immigrants with prior arrests, were released due to sanctuary policies.
This legal action is part of a broader DOJ campaign against sanctuary jurisdictions, with similar lawsuits filed against Los Angeles, New York State, Colorado, Illinois, Rochester, NY, and several New Jersey cities in recent months. The Trump administration has prioritized cracking down on sanctuary policies, with President Trump issuing an executive order in April 2025 directing federal agencies to withhold funding from non-compliant jurisdictions, though a federal judge blocked this effort for violating separation of powers.
New York City officials and supporters of sanctuary policies argue that these laws enhance public safety by encouraging undocumented immigrants to report crimes, seek medical care, and access services without fear of deportation. The New York City Council and the New York Civil Liberties Union have defended the policies, stating they make the city safer and are supported by evidence showing lower crime rates in sanctuary cities. Mayor Adams, named in the lawsuit, has expressed mixed views, supporting the “essence” of sanctuary laws but urging the City Council to reconsider aspects that protect violent offenders to allow better cooperation with federal authorities.
The lawsuit seeks a court declaration that New York City’s sanctuary policies are unconstitutional and a permanent injunction to prevent their enforcement. It follows tensions between Adams and the Trump administration, despite Adams’ attempts to align with federal immigration goals, such as issuing an executive order to allow ICE office space at Rikers Island, which was blocked by a state judge after City Council opposition. The case reflects ongoing national debates over immigration enforcement and local-federal cooperation.