Case: United States v. City of New York

1:25-cv-04084 | U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York

Filed Date: July 24, 2025

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

This case involves one of many federal government challenges to sanctuary city laws.   On July 24, 2025, the United States filed this lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York against the City of New York and its Mayor, as well as other top local agencies and their leadership. Filing under the Supremacy Clause, the Trump Administration claimed that New York’s sanctuary laws obstructed federal efforts to detain individuals unlawfully present in the country. Further,…

This case involves one of many federal government challenges to sanctuary city laws. 

 On July 24, 2025, the United States filed this lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York against the City of New York and its Mayor, as well as other top local agencies and their leadership. Filing under the Supremacy Clause, the Trump Administration claimed that New York’s sanctuary laws obstructed federal efforts to detain individuals unlawfully present in the country. Further, the U.S. alleged that sanctuary cities harbor criminal noncitizens, fueling a national emergency. In support of their contention that sanctuary laws obstruct federal immigration enforcement, the federal government alleged that New York City’s sanctuary laws violate the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) and the Laken Riley Act (both of which permit the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to issue immigration detainers and prohibit state and local entities from restricting communication with DHS regarding an individual's immigration status). The U.S. also alleged that New York City's provisions discriminated against the federal government by singling out federal immigration authorities for disfavored treatment.

The complaint sought declaratory and injunctive relief against New York City’s sanctuary laws, including New York City Administrative Code §§ 9-131, 9-205, 14-154, 10-178, and NYPD Operations Order No. 4. Judge Ramon E. Reyes Jr. was assigned to the case. 

This case is ongoing. 

 

Summary Authors

Victoria Tan (7/31/2025)

Nithya Arun (10/13/2025)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/70906146/parties/united-states-v-city-of-new-york/


Judge(s)

Reyes, Ramon E. (New York)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Perez, Elianis N (New York)

Reno, Catherine (New York)

Attorney for Defendant

Selvin, Karen B. (New York)

Steffan, Andrew (New York)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document
1

1:25-cv-04084

Complaint

July 24, 2025

July 24, 2025

Complaint

Resources

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/70906146/united-states-v-city-of-new-york/

Last updated Oct. 23, 2025, 12:51 p.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT against Adrienne E. Adams, Eric L. Adams, City of New York, Juanita N. Holmes, Lynelle Maginley-Liddie, New York City Council, New York City Department of Correction, New York City Department of Probation, New York City Police Department, Jessica S Tisch Was the Disclosure Statement on Civil Cover Sheet completed -NO,, filed by United States of America. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Proposed Summons, # 3 Exhibit Exhibit A: Letter from David M. Carr, Council Member, et al., to Attorney General Pamela Bondi (May 7, 2025), # 4 Exhibit Exhibit B: Statistics and Compliance, ICE Reports, NYC Dept. of Correction, # 5 Exhibit Exhibit C: Stats, Civil Immigration Detainers, NYPD, # 6 Exhibit Exhibit D: ICE Administrative Arrest Statistics, # 7 Exhibit Exhibit E: Rep. of the Governmental Affairs Div., Comm. on Immigration, Nov. 2, 2011, # 8 Exhibit Exhibit F: Report of the Governmental Affairs Div., Comm. on Immigration, Feb. 26, 2013, # 9 Exhibit Exhibit G: Report of the Governmental Affairs Div., Comm. on Immigration, Oct. 20, 2014, # 10 Exhibit Exhibit H: NYPD Operations Order 4) (Reno, Catherine) (Entered: 07/24/2025)

1 Civil Cover Sheet

View on PACER

2 Proposed Summons

View on PACER

3 Exhibit Exhibit A: Letter from David M. Carr, Council Member, et al., to Attorne

View on RECAP

4 Exhibit Exhibit B: Statistics and Compliance, ICE Reports, NYC Dept. of Correcti

View on PACER

5 Exhibit Exhibit C: Stats, Civil Immigration Detainers, NYPD

View on RECAP

6 Exhibit Exhibit D: ICE Administrative Arrest Statistics

View on PACER

7 Exhibit Exhibit E: Rep. of the Governmental Affairs Div., Comm. on Immigration,

View on PACER

8 Exhibit Exhibit F: Report of the Governmental Affairs Div., Comm. on Immigration

View on PACER

9 Exhibit Exhibit G: Report of the Governmental Affairs Div., Comm. on Immigration

View on PACER

10 Exhibit Exhibit H: NYPD Operations Order 4

View on RECAP

July 24, 2025

July 24, 2025

Clearinghouse
2

Proposed Summons. by United States of America (Reno, Catherine) (Entered: 07/24/2025)

July 24, 2025

July 24, 2025

PACER
3

Clerk's Notice Re: Consent. A United States Magistrate Judge has been assigned to this case and is available to conduct all proceedings. In accordance with Rule 73 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Local Rule 73.1, the parties are notified that if all parties consent, the assigned Magistrate Judge is available to conduct all proceedings in this action including a (jury or nonjury) trial and to order the entry of a final judgment. Attached to this Notice is a blank copy of the consent form that should be filled out, signed and filed electronically only if all parties wish to consent. Any party may withhold its consent without adverse substantive consequences. Do NOT return or file the consent unless all parties have signed the consent.The form may also be accessed at the following link: https://img.nyed.uscourts.gov/files/forms/MJConsentForm.pdf (CV) (Entered: 07/24/2025)

July 24, 2025

July 24, 2025

PACER
4

Summons Issued as to Adrienne E. Adams, Eric L. Adams, City of New York, Juanita N. Holmes, Lynelle Maginley-Liddie, New York City Council, New York City Department of Correction, New York City Department of Probation, New York City Police Department, Jessica S Tisch. (CV) (Main Document 4 replaced on 7/24/2025) (CV). (Entered: 07/24/2025)

July 24, 2025

July 24, 2025

PACER
5

This attorney case opening filing has been checked for quality control. See the attachment for corrections that were made, if any. (CV) (Entered: 07/24/2025)

July 24, 2025

July 24, 2025

RECAP
6

NOTICE of Appearance by Elianis N Perez on behalf of All Plaintiffs (aty to be noticed) (Perez, Elianis) (Entered: 07/24/2025)

July 24, 2025

July 24, 2025

RECAP

NOTICE: INCOMPLETE INITIAL CASE OPENING DOCUMENT SUBMISSION. Please file the Complaint, Civil Cover Sheet, Proposed Summons and pay the Civil Filing Fee for the following case so that it may be processed. Initial Case Opening Documents Should be Filed at The Time a Case Number is generated! (CV)

July 24, 2025

July 24, 2025

PACER

Notice: Re: Incomplete Civil Cover Sheet

July 24, 2025

July 24, 2025

PACER

Case Assigned/Reassigned

July 24, 2025

July 24, 2025

PACER

Case Assigned to Judge Ramon E. Reyes, Jr and Magistrate Judge Peggy Kuo. Please download and review the Individual Practices of the assigned Judges, located on our website. Attorneys are responsible for providing courtesy copies to judges where their Individual Practices require such. (CV)

July 24, 2025

July 24, 2025

PACER
7

SCHEDULING ORDER: An Initial Conference will be held in this case on November 13, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. before Peggy Kuo, United States Magistrate Judge in Courtroom 11C South of the United States Courthouse, 225 Cadman Plaza East, Brooklyn, New York. Counsel are directed to the annexed Initial Conference Order for instructions. By November 7, 2025, the parties must file a joint and completed copy of the Proposed Discovery Plan. Any request for adjournment of this or any other conference must be made in writing on notice to opposing parties, and must disclose whether or not all parties consent. No request for adjournment will be considered unless made at least two (2) business days before the scheduled conference, except in the event of an emergency. Counsel with knowledge and authority must be present. Per diem counsel may not appear without prior permission of the Court. Plaintiff's counsel is directed to ensure that Defendants are aware of this conference. Ordered by Magistrate Judge Peggy Kuo on 7/25/2025. (RO) (Entered: 07/25/2025)

July 25, 2025

July 25, 2025

RECAP
8

NOTICE of Appearance by Karen B. Selvin on behalf of All Defendants (aty to be noticed) (Selvin, Karen) (Entered: 08/07/2025)

Aug. 7, 2025

Aug. 7, 2025

PACER
9

SUMMONS Returned Executed by United States of America. Adrienne E. Adams served on 8/4/2025, answer due 8/25/2025; Eric L. Adams served on 8/4/2025, answer due 8/25/2025; City of New York served on 8/4/2025, answer due 8/25/2025; Juanita N. Holmes served on 8/5/2025, answer due 8/26/2025; Lynelle Maginley-Liddie served on 7/31/2025, answer due 8/21/2025; New York City Council served on 8/4/2025, answer due 8/25/2025; New York City Department of Correction served on 7/31/2025, answer due 8/21/2025; New York City Department of Probation served on 8/5/2025, answer due 8/26/2025; New York City Police Department served on 8/1/2025, answer due 8/22/2025; Jessica S Tisch served on 8/1/2025, answer due 8/22/2025. (Reno, Catherine) (Entered: 08/08/2025)

Aug. 8, 2025

Aug. 8, 2025

RECAP
10

MOTION for Extension of Time to File Answer by Adrienne E. Adams, Eric L. Adams, City of New York, Juanita N. Holmes, Lynelle Maginley-Liddie, New York City Council, New York City Department of Correction, New York City Department of Probation, New York City Police Department, Jessica S Tisch. (Selvin, Karen) (Entered: 08/14/2025)

Aug. 14, 2025

Aug. 14, 2025

RECAP

ORDER granting 10 Motion for Extension of Time to Answer: Defendants are directed to answer or otherwise respond to the Complaint by September 10, 2025. Ordered by Magistrate Judge Peggy Kuo on 8/15/2025. (VRM)

Aug. 15, 2025

Aug. 15, 2025

PACER

Order on Motion for Extension of Time to Answer

Aug. 15, 2025

Aug. 15, 2025

PACER
11

NOTICE of Appearance by Andrew Steffan on behalf of All Defendants (aty to be noticed) (Steffan, Andrew) (Entered: 08/22/2025)

Aug. 22, 2025

Aug. 22, 2025

RECAP
12

Letter MOTION for pre motion conference by Adrienne E. Adams, Eric L. Adams, City of New York, Juanita N. Holmes, Lynelle Maginley-Liddie, New York City Council, New York City Department of Correction, New York City Department of Probation, New York City Police Department, Jessica S Tisch. (Steffan, Andrew) (Entered: 09/10/2025)

Sept. 10, 2025

Sept. 10, 2025

RECAP
13

RESPONSE in Opposition re 12 Letter MOTION for pre motion conference filed by United States of America. (Reno, Catherine) (Entered: 09/17/2025)

Sept. 17, 2025

Sept. 17, 2025

RECAP

Order on Motion for Pre Motion Conference

Sept. 25, 2025

Sept. 25, 2025

PACER

ORDER denying 12 Motion for Pre Motion Conference. A premotion conference is unnecessary. Defendants are granted leave to file their motion to dismiss according to the following schedule: Defendants serve their motion on plaintiff on October 15, 2025; plaintiff serves its opposition papers on defendants on November 5, 2025; defendants serve their reply on plaintiff, and file the fully briefed motion on December 5, 2025. The parties are directed to provide the court with 2 courtesy copies of all motion papers by December 9, 2025. Ordered by Judge Ramon E. Reyes, Jr on 9/25/2025. (Reyes, Ramon)

Sept. 25, 2025

Sept. 25, 2025

PACER
14

MOTION to Stay the entire case by United States of America. (Reno, Catherine) (Entered: 10/01/2025)

Oct. 1, 2025

Oct. 1, 2025

RECAP

~Util - Set Deadlines

Oct. 3, 2025

Oct. 3, 2025

PACER

ORDER: Defendants to respond to Plaintiff's 14 motion to stay the entire case by 10/7/2025. Ordered by Judge Ramon E. Reyes, Jr. on 10/3/2025. (RL)

Oct. 3, 2025

Oct. 3, 2025

PACER
15

RESPONSE to Motion re 14 MOTION to Stay the entire case filed by All Defendants. (Selvin, Karen) (Entered: 10/07/2025)

Oct. 7, 2025

Oct. 7, 2025

RECAP

ORDER granting 14 Motion to Stay entire case pursuant to the terms of Administrative Order 2025-15. Ordered by Judge Ramon E. Reyes, Jr on 10/8/2025. (MV)

Oct. 8, 2025

Oct. 8, 2025

PACER

Order on Motion to Stay

Oct. 8, 2025

Oct. 8, 2025

PACER

1 - Terminate Deadlines and Hearings

Oct. 22, 2025

Oct. 22, 2025

PACER

SCHEDULING ORDER: In light of this matter being stayed pursuant to the terms of Administrative Order 2025-15, the initial conference scheduled for November 13, 2025 is adjourned sine die. Ordered by Magistrate Judge Peggy Kuo on 10/22/2025. (RO)

Oct. 22, 2025

Oct. 22, 2025

PACER

Case Details

State / Territory: New York

Case Type(s):

Immigration and/or the Border

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration 2.0: Litigation and Investigations By the Government

Key Dates

Filing Date: July 24, 2025

Case Ongoing: Yes

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

United States

Plaintiff Type(s):

U.S. Dept of Justice plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: No

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

New York City, City

New York City Council, City

New York City Department of Correction, City

New York City Department of Probation, City

New York City Police Department, City

Defendant Type(s):

Law-enforcement

Corrections

Facility Type(s):

Government-run

Case Details

Causes of Action:

Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (IIRIRA)

Constitutional Clause(s):

Supremacy Clause

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Complaint (any)

Outcome

Prevailing Party: None Yet / None

Nature of Relief:

None yet

Source of Relief:

None yet

Issues

Immigration/Border:

Criminal prosecution

Sanctuary city/state

Undocumented immigrants - state and local regulation