The Trump administration filed a federal lawsuit Thursday against four New Jersey cities. It accuses them of obstructing immigration enforcement.
The Justice Department named Newark, Jersey City, Hoboken and Paterson as defendants. It also named their mayors and city councils. Federal attorneys said local laws block U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement from accessing undocumented immigrants in custody. They also prevent officers from cooperating with federal agents.
The complaint says the cities adopted policies that prohibit local law enforcement from honoring detainer requests issued by federal immigration authorities. It alleges the cities restrict access to detainees held in municipal jails. It also claims officers cannot share information critical to federal immigration operations.
Federal officials argue these policies hinder enforcement of national immigration laws. They say the measures undermine public safety. The lawsuit asks a federal judge to strike down the ordinances. It seeks to compel the cities to comply with federal immigration agents.
The case comes amid ongoing clashes between local officials and the Trump administration over sanctuary city policies. Newark’s mayor recently confronted federal agents during a demonstration at a detention facility. Officials arrested him but later dropped the charges. A member of Congress who took part in the protest faces federal charges connected to the incident.
Municipal leaders say their sanctuary policies help immigrant communities feel safe reporting crimes and cooperating with law enforcement. Courts have repeatedly ruled that the federal government cannot force local jurisdictions to enforce immigration laws through funding threats. These rulings affirm that cities hold the authority to set their own law enforcement priorities.
Despite these rulings, the Trump administration continues to challenge sanctuary cities nationwide in court. The administration signals a persistent effort to dismantle local policies that limit cooperation with federal immigration officials.
The New Jersey Digest is a new jersey magazine that has chronicled daily life in the Garden State for over 10 years.