PULSE POINTS:
❓What Happened: The Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed a lawsuit against four New Jersey cities, alleging their sanctuary policies obstruct federal immigration enforcement.
👥 Who’s Involved: The DOJ, Acting Assistant Attorney General Yaakov Roth, Attorney General Pam Bondi, the cities of Newark, Jersey City, Paterson, and Hoboken, Mayor Ras Baraka, and Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-NJ).
📍 Where & When: Newark, Jersey City, Paterson, and Hoboken, New Jersey; lawsuit announced Thursday.
💬 Key Quote: “The express purpose and clear effect of these policies … is to thwart federal immigration enforcement,” said Assistant Attorney General Roth.
⚠️ Impact: The lawsuit alleges the cities’ sanctuary policies violate the Constitution’s supremacy clause, endanger public safety, and could lead to further legal action.
IN FULL:
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed a lawsuit against four New Jersey cities, accusing them of obstructing federal immigration enforcement through their sanctuary policies. The legal action targets Newark, Jersey City, Paterson, and Hoboken, claiming their local rules unconstitutionally hinder federal authorities’ ability to work with local law enforcement to detain and deport illegal immigrants.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Yaakov Roth described the cities’ policies as “a frontal assault on the federal immigration laws and the federal authorities that administer them.” Roth further stated that these measures “thwart federal immigration enforcement” and prevent willing local law enforcement from aiding in addressing the nation’s immigration crisis.
The lawsuit also alleges that the policies jeopardize both officer and public safety, violating the U.S. Constitution’s supremacy clause, which establishes federal law as the ultimate authority over conflicting state or local statutes.
The filing follows a recent high-profile incident on May 9 at a Newark Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center. That clash, involving state and federal Democratic officials, resulted in the arrest of Newark Mayor Ras Baraka and federal charges against Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-NJ).
Attorney General Pam Bondi criticized the sanctuary policies, stating, “Recent events have proven that these New Jersey officials care more about political showmanship than the safety of their communities.” Bondi emphasized that the Justice Department will not tolerate local interference in federal immigration enforcement and hinted at further legal actions against other sanctuary jurisdictions.
The DOJ has previously filed similar lawsuits against sanctuary policies in New York, Illinois, and Colorado.