The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has initiated a lawsuit against New York City, challenging its sanctuary city laws amid rising tensions over immigration policies.
This lawsuit follows a high-profile incident in Manhattan where an off-duty Customs and Border Patrol officer was shot by an undocumented immigrant.
On Thursday, authorities charged two suspects, alleging that they are Dominican Republic nationals living in the U.S. illegally.
The NYPD suspects these individuals to be affiliated with the Trinitarios gang, contributing to the growing concern over crime linked to undocumented immigrants in the city.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and border czar Tom Homan expressed their frustration over the shooting, with Homan vowing to increase the presence of immigration agents to target undocumented immigrants with criminal backgrounds.
“Sanctuary cities are sanctuaries for criminals, hard stop,” Homan stated emphatically.
The lawsuit specifically addresses provisions within New York City law that the DOJ claims obstructs federal immigration enforcement.
According to the lawsuit, these laws hinder essential communication and collaboration between federal and local law enforcement agencies necessary for enforcing immigration law effectively and protecting public safety.
Attorney General Pam Bondi criticized New York City’s policies, asserting that they have led to the release of numerous criminals back into the community, endangering the lives of law-abiding citizens.
Bondi stated, “If New York City won’t stand up for the safety of its citizens, we will.”
In response, the New York Immigration Coalition deemed the lawsuit frivolous, defending the rationale behind sanctuary policies.
“Sanctuary policies simply tell all New Yorkers, regardless of your immigration status, that if you are a victim of a crime or witness a crime, feel free to go to law enforcement,” remarked Murad Awawdeh, the organization’s president and CEO.
Awawdeh emphasized that localities and states have the authority to establish laws and policies to protect their communities, arguing that New York City’s sanctuary policies are aimed at ensuring safety for all residents.
Federal officials have been particularly outraged by the City Council’s decision to challenge an executive order from the Adams administration that allowed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to operate on Rikers Island.
This order was intended to facilitate the identification of undocumented immigrants who may have committed crimes while in custody.
Homan made it clear that increased federal enforcement would be a direct response to New York’s sanctuary policies.
He stated, “We’re going to flood the zones.
The sanctuary cities are going to get exactly what they don’t want, more agents in the communities and more worksite enforcement.
They won’t let one agent arrest one bad guy in a jail, and we’ll have to send the whole team to go find that person.”
Homan’s comments reflect a growing tension between federal authorities and local governments that have adopted sanctuary policies, aimed at providing protections for undocumented immigrants.
In response to the lawsuit, City Hall released a statement reiterating the mayor’s commitment to the safety of all New Yorkers.
According to a spokesperson for Mayor Eric Adams, “The job of a mayor is to protect the safety of every single person in their city — and that’s exactly what Mayor Adams has worked to do every day for nearly four years.”
The spokesperson added that true public safety means ensuring that all residents feel secure enough to seek help without fear, urging the City Council to reconsider its approach to laws impacting violent offenders.
So far, the Council has not acted on the mayor’s request.
The DOJ’s lawsuit has gained bipartisan support in the city, with Republican representatives like Staten Island Rep. Nicole Malliotakis and members of the City Council’s Common Sense Caucus commending the action.
This lawsuit forms part of a larger trend initiated during the Trump administration, where federal officials have focused efforts on sanctuary jurisdictions that they believe hinder federal immigration enforcement.
As the DOJ continues to pursue legal action against sanctuary cities, the debate over immigration policies and public safety remains a contentious issue in New York City and beyond.
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