The Trump administration has filed a lawsuit against the city of Rochester, New York, citing its sanctuary city policies as a violation of the Constitution for obstructing immigration enforcement efforts. The lawsuit follows an incident where local police officers assisted Border Patrol at a traffic stop, leading to the handcuffing of the vehicle’s occupants, contrary to city policy. Rochester has been a sanctuary city since 1986, with a resolution passed during Trump’s first term emphasizing non-involvement in federal immigration enforcement activities.

The lawsuit seeks to invalidate Rochester’s policies, which prohibit city employees, including police, from engaging in immigration enforcement activities or inquiring about the immigration status of individuals unless necessary for a criminal investigation. Rochester officials defend these policies as legally sound and assert their commitment to investing in public safety rather than carrying out federal immigration enforcement duties.

The legal dispute arose from a March 24 traffic stop where Rochester police officers responded to a Border Patrol backup request and assisted in handcuffing individuals, prompting an internal investigation and additional policy training for officers. While the city officials view the lawsuit as political theater, the Trump administration aims to challenge sanctuary city practices and ensure compliance with federal immigration laws. The outcome of this legal battle will have implications for the jurisdiction of local versus federal authorities in immigration enforcement matters.