Judge rejects Trump admin's challenge to NYC's sanctuary laws

A New York-based federal judge this week rejected a challenge from the Trump administration to New York City's sanctuary city laws.

The administration sued the Big Apple in 2025, arguing that city laws limiting local agencies' cooperation with federal immigration enforcement ran afoul of the Constitution. But U.S. District Judge Ramon Reyes found that Washington could not sue the city, because federal law did not require local authorities to disclose the release dates of criminals facing deportation, Reuters reported. 

Neither could the administration sue the city over a ban on police arresting immigrants on behalf of the federal government, because state law barred the practice.

The ruling is a blow to the Trump administration, which has challenged sanctuary laws in major American cities amid its efforts to deport illegal immigrants.

Ben Whedon is the Chief Political Correspondent at Just the News. Follow him on X.