WASHINGTON– The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed a lawsuit against New York City, Mayor Eric Adams, and several top city officials, accusing them of obstructing federal immigration enforcement through the city’s sanctuary policies.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, claims that New York’s laws and regulations deliberately hinder cooperation between local and federal law enforcement agencies, particularly in matters involving undocumented immigrants with criminal records.
“New York City has released thousands of criminals back onto the streets due to its sanctuary policies, putting law-abiding citizens at risk,” U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi said in a statement on Thursday.
Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate echoed that sentiment, declaring, “For too long, New York City has been at the vanguard of interfering with enforcing our immigration laws. Its efforts to thwart federal immigration enforcement end now.”
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and border enforcement official Tom Homan also expressed outrage, particularly after a recent incident in which an off-duty U.S. Border Patrol agent was shot in a city park during an attempted robbery. The suspect, according to officials, was an undocumented migrant with a violent criminal history and multiple outstanding warrants.
“Sanctuary cities are sanctuaries for criminals, hard stop,” Homan said, vowing to “flood the zone” with immigration agents targeting undocumented immigrants with prior offenses.
The lawsuit is part of a broader DOJ campaign to invalidate what it describes as “unconstitutional sanctuary policies.” Over the past three months, similar legal actions have been launched against Los Angeles, New York State, Colorado, Illinois, the city of Rochester, and several jurisdictions in New Jersey.
At a White House briefing, Homan specifically criticized New York’s sanctuary status, accusing the city of making it harder for federal agents to apprehend undocumented individuals who pose a public safety threat.
According to the complaint, New York City laws intentionally obstruct the federal government’s ability to enforce immigration laws by restricting communication and coordination between federal immigration authorities and local law enforcement. One cited provision, enacted in 2011, prohibits the Department of Correction from honoring civil immigration detainers issued by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Other regulations limit NYPD officers’ ability to cooperate with ICE agents.
The DOJ is positioning this case as a stand against what it describes as unlawful obstruction of federal law. Shortly after taking office, Attorney General Bondi issued a directive to cut off federal funding to jurisdictions that “unlawfully interfere with federal law enforcement operations.” She also encouraged more aggressive legal action against cities and states that maintain sanctuary policies.
The Trump-era crackdown on sanctuary cities—revived under the current administration—has reignited tensions between the federal government and Democratic-led jurisdictions. New York Governor Kathy Hochul has testified before Congress defending the state’s sanctuary stance in the face of increasing federal pressure. (Source: IANS)
