NEW YORK — A federal judge has thrown out the Trump administration’s lawsuit against New York City’s “sanctuary” laws, ruling that the government did not have a valid basis to sue. U.S. District Judge Ramón Reyes in Brooklyn issued the decision on Thursday, Oct. 15, Reuters reported.
The ruling means the city’s limits on helping federal immigration agents stay in place for now.
What the lawsuit tried to do
The administration filed the case in July 2025 as part of its campaign against so-called sanctuary city policies, which are meant to shield immigrants from mass deportation efforts. It asked the court to block New York City laws that limit how local agencies work with federal immigration enforcement.
The government argued that federal law overrides the city’s rules under the Constitution’s Supremacy Clause. It also argued that the city’s refusal to honor immigration detainer requests from ICE put agents at risk and led to criminals being released who should have been held for removal.
Why the judge said no
Reyes rejected the arguments on several grounds:
- Detainers: The administration could not challenge a city law that bars police from holding immigrants at federal authorities’ request, because state law already prohibits that practice.
- Information sharing: City laws that limit sharing release dates, whereabouts or other custody details about immigrants were valid, because federal law does not require state and local governments to share that information.
- Federal power: The federal government cannot force local governments to help with immigration enforcement.
What the laws do
New York City’s sanctuary laws limit cooperation between city agencies, such as police, and federal immigration agencies like ICE. They were created partly to encourage immigrants to use city services, like medical care and schools, and to report crimes without fear of being detained. The city can still cooperate with federal authorities in criminal matters and in other situations the law allows.
A wider legal fight
The administration brought its first major sanctuary lawsuit in February 2025 against Illinois and Cook County. It filed similar cases against cities such as Los Angeles and New York in July 2025.
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin has criticized New York’s policies and said sanctuary cities and politicians put the public at risk. For the department’s recent enforcement numbers, see our report on ICE gang-related arrests.
What’s next
The reports reviewed for this story do not say whether the administration plans to appeal. Check back for updates.
