A lawsuit was filed by the Trump administration against New York on Thursday regarding a law aimed at shielding immigrants from arrest during court appearances.
The legal action seeks to invalidate certain laws, claiming they hinder federal immigration enforcement along with two executive orders from the state.
“These laws directly regulate and discriminate against the federal government in violation of the supreme provisions of the U.S. Constitution,” commented an official.
This lawsuit coincides with New York Governor Kathy Hochul’s testimony on Capitol Hill concerning the state’s sanctuary city policies.
The office of Hochul and New York Attorney General Letitia James was approached for comments.
Passed in 2020 in response to the initial Trump administration measures, the Protection Court Act bars the arrest of civil immigrants while they are attending or traveling to court in New York.
The Trump administration’s crackdown on immigrant arrests in court became particularly notable after a judge in Wisconsin faced charges for allegedly assisting immigrants in avoiding arrest during court proceedings.
“Making an arrest in or near the court increases safety risks for individuals, law enforcement officers, and the broader community, especially since individuals are usually screened for weapons or contraband before entering the courthouse,” the lawsuit argues.
This new legal challenge in federal court in Albany also contests two executive orders from former Governor Andrew Cuomo. These orders prevent the arrest of civil immigrants in broader state facilities and prohibit New York State employees from sharing specific information with federal immigration authorities.
The lawsuit represents the latest attempt by the Trump administration to counteract Democratic-led states that oppose its immigration policies. The Department of Justice had previously challenged sanctuary city policies in Colorado, Illinois, and several cities in New Jersey.
