A bipartisan group of city council members is calling on Trump’s Justice Department to intervene and overturn New York City’s Sanctuary Urban Law, according to reports.
The Common Sense Caucus of the council sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi on Monday, requesting that the city take legal action against policies related to illegal immigration that restrict local law enforcement and federal government collaboration.
“Under your direction, the Department of Justice has already sued the State of New York for violating federal law by hindering communication between states and federal agencies regarding immigration enforcement,” the Caucus noted in a letter obtained through the mail.
“We urge the DOJ to broaden this legal action to include the so-called ‘sanctuary urban law’ of New York City, which protects undocumented immigrants from federal authorities, thereby significantly undermining the efforts of the Department of Homeland Security and our local law enforcement agencies.”
The DOJ previously filed a federal lawsuit against the state concerning the 2019 “Green Light Act” in February.
“Our Constitution specifically empowers the federal government to enact laws safeguarding borders and managing immigration, and New York City cannot be allowed to disregard these laws,” the letter stated.
“The court has sided with the DOJ in enforcing compliance from local authorities with federal agencies like ICE, and Attorney General Bondi is the right person to spearhead this initiative.”
The city implemented immigrant protection policies that banned ICE from requesting detainees unless there was a judicial warrant or the individual had been convicted of a serious crime within the last five years.
Over time, five other laws have been introduced to limit cooperation between the New York City Police Department and local authorities.
Some lawmakers who seek to dismantle these laws argue that such “reckless and unjust policies” endanger New Yorkers. “These ‘sanctuary cities’ laws only provide refuge to dangerous criminals targeting New Yorkers,” said Joanne Ariola, the council’s minority leader from Queens. “We’ve been fighting to eliminate them for years. Now, with a president and federal government prioritizing American safety, we hope for a positive outcome.”
Mayor Eric Adams, seen as pro-Trump, has consistently defended these laws, arguing they actually enhance city safety. “If someone is a crime victim, I would tell them to call the police and report it. If someone needs medical assistance, I’d advise them to seek help,” he stated.
The DOJ did not provide any comment on the matter.
