The Trump administration is suing New York City Mayor Eric Adams over sanctuary policies that restrict cooperation between local officials and federal immigration authorities.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced a lawsuit against both New York City and Adams over the Big Apple’s sanctuary laws, according to a post on X from Attorney General Pam Bondi on Thursday. The lawsuit makes New York City the latest jurisdiction to be targeted in the Trump administration’s legal warfare against sanctuary havens across the U.S. (RELATED: Obama-Appointed Judge Claims ICE Can’t Immediately Arrest Suspected Gangbanger)
“The Department of Justice is suing New York City and Mayor Eric Adams for continuing to obstruct law enforcement with sanctuary city policies,” Bondi stated in a social media post.
“If New York’s leaders won’t step up to protect their citizens, we will,” the attorney general continued.
ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA – JULY 15: U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi speaks during a news conference at the DEA headquarters on July 15, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Announcement of the lawsuit came just days after an off-duty Customs and Border Protection officer was allegedly ambushed and shot by two illegal migrants with lengthy criminal rap sheets in New York City’s Fort Washington Park, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Trump officials have placed the blame for the attack squarely on the Big Apple’s sanctuary city leaders.
“These violent thugs have committed a smorgasbord of crimes and been arrested multiple times and yet New York continued to release them, ignore an [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] ICE detainer and allow them to continue to prey on Americans and terrorize our streets,” DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated of the attack.
“How many people have to die, how many lives have to be changed forever for Mayor Adams and his sanctuary politician ilk to end these performative politics?” McLaughlin continued.
ICE has issued 6,025 detainer requests in New York City since President Donald Trump returned to the White House in January, DHS revealed Wednesday. To put that number into perspective, ICE only issued 9,472 detainers in the city during the entirety of the Biden administration.
While there is no official definition for a “sanctuary city,” the term generally describes any state or locality that prohibits its government officials from assisting or otherwise cooperating with ICE or other federal immigration agents. Typical sanctuary city laws prevent local law enforcement from honoring immigration detainer requests, sharing information with ICE or notifying the agency of an impending release of a wanted illegal migrant.
The Trump administration has repeatedly sparred with NYC over its sanctuary laws, particularly regarding ICE’s access to Rikers Island.
“For too long, New York City has been at the vanguard of interfering with enforcing our immigration laws,” Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate said in a prepared statement. “Its efforts to thwart federal immigration enforcement end now.”
Thursday’s lawsuit targets not only Adams, but the New York City Council, the New York City Department of Corrections, the New York Police Department and other local entities, according to court documents.
The Trump White House has waged multiple lawsuits against major sanctuary havens in recent months — such as Chicago, Los Angeles and New York State.
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