Filed Date: July 24, 2025
Case Ongoing
Clearinghouse coding complete
This case is about New York City’s alleged obstruction of federal immigration enforcement through its sanctuary city policies. On July 24, 2025, the United States filed this lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York. The United States sued the City of New York and its Mayor; the New York City Council and its Speaker; the New York City Department of Correction and its Commissioner; the New York City Department of Probation and its Commissioner; and the New York City Police Department and its Commissioner under the Supremacy Clause. Judge Ramon E. Reyes Jr. was assigned to the case.
Represented by government counsel, the United States sought declaratory and injunctive relief to bar the City from enforcing specific provisions that restricted cooperation with federal immigration authorities, including New York City Administrative Code §§ 9-131, 9-205, 14-154, 10-178, and NYPD Operations Order No. 4.
Plaintiffs claimed that these policies obstructed federal efforts to detain individuals unlawfully present in the country, leading to numerous criminals being released who should have been held for immigration removal. They alleged that a national emergency existed due to unlawful entry and that sanctuary cities created safe havens with dangerous consequences, citing incidents involving violence against federal officers. Plaintiffs argued that the restrictions interfered with the federal government’s exclusive authority to enforce immigration law, citing the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) and the Laken Riley Act, which permit DHS to issue immigration detainers and prohibit state and local entities from restricting communication with DHS regarding an individual's immigration status. Plaintiffs also alleged that New York City's provisions discriminated against the federal government by singling out federal immigration authorities for disfavored treatment.
This case is ongoing.
Summary Authors
Victoria Tan (7/31/2025)
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/70906146/parties/united-states-v-city-of-new-york/
Reyes, Ramon E. (New York)
Perez, Elianis N (New York)
Reno, Catherine (New York)
Selvin, Karen B. (New York)
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/70906146/united-states-v-city-of-new-york/
Last updated Aug. 21, 2025, 11:55 a.m.
State / Territory: New York
Case Type(s):
Special Collection(s):
Trump Administration 2.0: Litigation and Investigations Involving 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 Department of Correction, City
New York City Department of Probation, City
New York City Police Department, City
Defendant Type(s):
Facility Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), 8 U.S.C. §§ 1101 et seq.
Constitutional Clause(s):
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: None Yet / None
Nature of Relief:
Source of Relief:
Issues
Immigration/Border: