Justice Department Sues Los Angeles Over Sanctuary City Ordinance

The U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit Monday against the City of Los Angeles, alleging its sanctuary city ordinance violates the Constitution and obstructs federal immigration enforcement. The complaint names the city itself, Mayor Karen Bass, the City Council, and its president, Marqueece Harris-Dawson, accusing them of adopting policies that prevent local officials from cooperating with federal immigration authorities.

The lawsuit challenges the city’s ordinance, passed in December 2024, which bars city personnel from sharing information with immigration agents, responding to administrative warrants, transferring detainees, granting access to non-public areas such as jails, or participating in joint operations with federal agencies. Federal prosecutors argue that by restricting coordination and communication with agencies like ICE and Customs and Border Protection, Los Angeles is unlawfully interfering with federal law and undermining public safety.

The Justice Department also cites public statements from city officials and an “urgency clause” in the ordinance as evidence that the policy was designed to resist federal policy.

The legal challenge comes amid unrest in Southern California following immigration raids conducted in early June. The operations prompted widespread protests in Los Angeles, resulting in significant property damage, dozens of arrests, and a temporary curfew. In response, the federal government deployed thousands of National Guard troops and hundreds of active-duty Marines to the city.

Federal officials contend that the Los Angeles’ non-cooperation policy has contributed to a breakdown in public order and impeded enforcement operations. The lawsuit claims the ordinance treats immigration agents differently from other federal officers and violates the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution, which bars state and local governments from interfering with federal law.

The case is one of several lawsuits filed by the Trump administration targeting jurisdictions with similar sanctuary policies, including New York, New Jersey, and Colorado. In a social media post, Chad Mizelle, chief of staff to Attorney General Pam Bondi, said the administration “will not tolerate any interference” with federal enforcement efforts. “We will keep enforcing federal immigration law in Los Angeles, whether or not the city’s government or residents agree with it,” he said.

City officials maintain that the ordinance was carefully drafted to comply with federal and state law and say the city will continue to defend residents’ rights.

The Justice Department argues the ordinance violates the Constitution and federal law, and is asking the court to strike it down and block future city leaders from adopting similar policies.