The US Justice Department has filed a lawsuit against New York state, challenging state policies that prevent immigration officials from arresting individuals at or near courthouses. The lawsuit specifically targets the Protect Our Courts Act, which aims to protect individuals from being lawfully detained at or on their way to or from a courthouse. US Attorney General Pam Bondi criticized New York for adopting policies similar to those of California to shield “illegal aliens from apprehension.”

In response to Trump’s immigration crackdown, demonstrators protested in major US cities. Concurrently, a federal judge in San Francisco heard arguments in California’s lawsuit against Trump’s deployment of troops in Los Angeles. Republicans in Congress summoned Democratic governors to question them about policies limiting cooperation with federal immigration authorities.

The House committee on oversight and government reform highlighted cases of individuals in the country illegally who were arrested for crimes in states like Illinois, Minnesota, and New York. Committee Chairman James Comer emphasized that sanctuary policies prioritize criminal illegal aliens over Americans’ safety.

While there is no legal definition of a sanctuary jurisdiction, it generally refers to governments with policies limiting cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Trump’s administration has sued states like Colorado, Illinois, and New York, as well as cities like Chicago and Rochester, for allegedly violating federal law. Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota refuted claims that the state is a sanctuary, stating that enforcing immigration law is not within the purview of local and state governments.

Governor JB Pritzker of Illinois emphasized the importance of removing violent criminals, regardless of their immigration status. Governor Kathy Hochul of New York clarified that law enforcement can still cooperate with federal immigration authorities in criminal cases but does not engage in civil immigration enforcement, which falls under the federal government’s jurisdiction.