US Justice Department Takes Legal Action Against Los Angeles' Sanctuary Ordinance

Federal Lawsuit Targets Los Angeles' Immigration Policy

Sacramento: The Justice Department of the United States has initiated a lawsuit against the City of Los Angeles, its Mayor Karen Bass, and the City Council, seeking to invalidate the city's 'sanctuary' ordinance, claiming it hinders federal immigration enforcement.

The lawsuit, filed in the Central District of California, contends that Los Angeles has breached the Constitution's Supremacy Clause and two federal statutes regarding information sharing by prohibiting local law enforcement from collaborating with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) unless serious felony charges are involved.

The Justice Department is requesting a federal court to block the ordinance, which was enacted on December 9, 2024, following a unanimous vote by the city council.

U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi stated that this policy has been a significant factor in the violence and disorder seen in Los Angeles, as per a press release issued on Monday. She emphasized that this lawsuit aligns with President Donald Trump's commitment to eliminate 'lawless sanctuary jurisdictions.'

City officials in Los Angeles have strongly contested this portrayal. Mayor Bass remarked to the Los Angeles Times on June 12 that describing the situation in the city as chaotic is simply false, asserting that federal actions 'terrorize families and damage our economy.'

The ordinance prohibits the use of city resources, personnel, or property for federal immigration enforcement, restricts data sharing with ICE, and instructs city jails to disregard detainer requests unless accompanied by a judicial warrant, as reported by Xinhua news agency.

City leaders argue that this measure reinforces limits already established by California's 2017 Values Act, which successfully withstood a challenge in 2019 at the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. According to estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau, approximately 35% of Los Angeles County's population is foreign-born.

California's top officials quickly expressed their support for Los Angeles. Governor Gavin Newsom referred to the lawsuit as 'political theatre' in a written statement.

State Attorney General Rob Bonta stated during a news conference that federal authorities 'cannot compel local law enforcement to perform their duties,' referencing the Supreme Court's anti-commandeering doctrine.

Civil rights advocates echoed this sentiment. The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California described the lawsuit as 'an unconstitutional assault on immigrant communities,' arguing that sanctuary policies encourage crime victims and witnesses to engage with law enforcement.

The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles cautioned that reversing these protections would 'push thousands of Angelenos further into the shadows,' according to their press release.

Conservative groups welcomed the lawsuit. The Center for Immigration Studies claimed that the ordinance 'releases deportable offenders back onto the streets.' Meanwhile, the Federation for American Immigration Reform labeled it 'a long overdue move towards public safety' in separate policy statements.

Legal experts suggest that this dispute could redefine the power dynamics between federal and local governments. Historically, courts have been hesitant to mandate cities to enforce deportations. However, the Justice Department argues that Los Angeles has exceeded previous cases by prohibiting even contractors from sharing basic inmate release information.

If the Trump administration succeeds, Los Angeles may be required to provide ICE with regular access to city jails, inform agents when non-citizen inmates are released, and comply with immigration detainers, which critics argue would undermine years of trust-building with immigrant communities. Conversely, if the city prevails, analysts predict that other municipalities across the U.S. may enhance similar protections, resulting in a more fragmented approach nationwide.

This lawsuit is part of a broader series of federal challenges against sanctuary policies in cities like New York, Chicago, and several municipalities in New Jersey.