The Trump administration has filed a federal lawsuit against New York City, accusing its sanctuary city policies of obstructing immigration enforcement and contributing to a violent incident involving a federal officer.
Announced Thursday, the lawsuit argues that the city’s refusal to cooperate with federal immigration authorities allowed two undocumented men, both previously arrested multiple times after entering the U.S. illegally from the Dominican Republic, to remain free. One of them had an active detainer ignored after a 2024 arrest, according to the complaint.
The case gained urgency after a shocking incident last weekend. An off-duty U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer was shot in a Manhattan park while seated with a woman beneath the George Washington Bridge. According to police, two men approached on a moped. The officer drew his weapon, and a gunfight broke out. He was hit in the face and arm, while one suspect was shot in the groin and leg.
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Trump officials have directly linked the shooting to New York’s sanctuary city stance, blaming it for allowing violent offenders to avoid federal custody, AP reported.
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The lawsuit is part of a broader Justice Department effort to challenge state and local immigration policies seen as hindering federal authority.
Responding to the controversy, Kayla Mamelak Altus, a spokesperson for Mayor Eric Adams, stated the mayor “supports the essence” of the city’s sanctuary approach but has asked the City Council “to reexamine them to ensure we can effectively work with the federal government to make our city safer” when dealing with “violent criminals.”
“So far, the Council has refused,” she added. A City Council representative did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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