DOJ sues Los Angeles over sanctuary laws

The Department of Justice on Monday announced a lawsuit against the city of Los Angeles over its sanctuary city policies that it says are illegal.

"The challenged law and policies of the City of Los Angeles obstruct the Federal Government’s enforcement of federal immigration law and impede consultation and communication between federal, state, and local law enforcement officials that is necessary for federal officials to carry out federal immigration law and keep Americans safe," the DOJ wrote.

The suit comes in the wake of riots in the city over Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids that ultimately prompted the Trump administration to deploy the National Guard and the U.S. Marines.

"The Supremacy Clause prohibits the City of Los Angeles and its officials from singling out the Federal Government for adverse treatment—as the challenged law and policies do—thereby discriminating against the Federal Government," the DOJ argued. "Accordingly, the law and policies challenged here are invalid and should be enjoined."