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US judge tosses Trump administration lawsuit over New York City ‘sanctuary’ laws

By Thomson Reuters Oct 15, 2026 | 5:29 PM

NEW YORK, Oct 15 (Reuters) – A federal judge on Thursday threw out a Trump administration lawsuit that sought to ​block New York City laws ‌limiting cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, finding the government did not have a valid basis to sue.

• US District Judge Ramon Reyes in Brooklyn ‌said ​President Donald Trump’s administration could ⁠not challenge a ⁠city law barring police from detaining immigrants at the request of federal authorities because that practice is already prohibited by ​state law.

• The judge also said city laws restricting local authorities from sharing ⁠release dates, whereabouts or ⁠other custody information about immigrants ​were valid because federal law does not require ​state and local governments to share that ‌information.

• Reyes rejected the administration’s arguments that federal law superseded the challenged New York City laws, finding the federal government ⁠could not force local governments to assist with immigration enforcement.

• The administration filed the lawsuit in ⁠New York ‌federal court in July 2025 as ⁠part of its campaign against ​so-called ‌sanctuary city policies, which aim to ​shield ⁠immigrants from Trump’s mass deportation campaign.

• The Justice Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the ruling.

(Reporting by Jack Queen in New York; Editing by ​Matthew Lewis)