Federal Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Against New York Sanctuary Laws
Judge Ramón E. Reyes Jr. dismissed a federal lawsuit seeking to force New York City to enforce civil immigration laws and honor ICE detainer requests.
A federal judge in Brooklyn dismissed a lawsuit filed by the Trump administration that sought to block the sanctuary laws of New York City. Judge Ramón E. Reyes Jr. ruled that the federal government cannot compel city agencies or police officials to enforce civil immigration laws, citing a lack of standing and constitutional protections that prevent the federal government from forcing local governments to spend their own resources on federal mandates.
The lawsuit was filed by the United States Department of Justice in July 2025. Federal prosecutors argued that the city's refusal to honor detainer requests from United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement allowed criminals to remain in the community and endangered federal agents.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani praised the decision, calling it "a victory for New Yorkers and a rebuke to ICE’s deportation agenda." The ruling aligns with a broader pattern of federal judges rejecting similar administration challenges in other Democratic-led cities and states.
