Trump Administration Sues NYC Over Sanctuary City Policies

The Justice Department sued Mayor Eric Adams and New York City, alleging that the city's policies hinder the Trump administration's enforcement of immigration laws. The 37-page lawsuit, filed in Brooklyn Federal District Court, claims the city violates the Constitution's supremacy clause, arguing the federal government holds ultimate authority over immigration.

<img src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2025/07/25/multimedia/25met-edny-sanctuary-01-bhpt/25met-edny-sanctuary-01-bhpt-articleLarge.jpg?quality=75&amp;auto=webp&amp;disable=upscale" alt="Image of migrant housing in NYC">

The lawsuit names Mayor Adams, the City Council, the Police Department, and its commissioner as defendants. This action follows similar lawsuits against Illinois, Chicago, New Jersey cities, and Los Angeles.

Adams's Shifting Stance

Mayor Adams's public alignment with Trump on immigration issues, while simultaneously lobbying for the dismissal of corruption charges against him, is highlighted. This relationship became strained after the shooting of an off-duty customs officer; the suspects, illegally in the country, had criminal records. City Hall maintains that the mayor's stance hasn't changed.

<img src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2025/07/24/multimedia/24MET-Sanctuary-1-fvtl/24MET-Sanctuary-1-fvtl-articleLarge.jpg?quality=75&amp;auto=webp&amp;disable=upscale" alt="Image of Mayor Eric Adams">

Sanctuary City Laws and Their Impact

The lawsuit details how NYC's sanctuary laws, implemented in 2014 under Mayor de Blasio, restrict cooperation with ICE, preventing the deportation of many criminals. These laws limit information sharing and ICE access to city jails, leading to the release of individuals who should have been held for deportation. The lawsuit contends that this has created safety risks for officers and the public.

<img src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2025/07/24/multimedia/24MET-edny-Sanctuary-2/24MET-edny-Sanctuary-2-articleLarge.jpg?quality=75&amp;auto=webp&amp;disable=upscale" alt="Image of Rikers Island">

Reactions and Arguments

City officials argue that they cannot legally hold detainees for ICE beyond their release date without a judicial warrant. Supporters of the sanctuary policies argue they protect individuals accused of non-violent crimes and that localities should not be forced to enforce federal immigration laws. The lawsuit, however, alleges that these policies endanger public safety.

The suit notes that Mayor Adams, running for re-election as an independent, faces criticism for appearing overly aligned with Trump. The lawsuit might also lessen the perception of a quid pro quo in the dismissal of Adams's corruption charges.