A federal court in New York has dismissed the Trump administration’s attempt to overturn city laws limiting local authorities’ cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, dealing a setback to the government’s broader push to expand its deportation efforts.
US District Judge Ramon Reyes, sitting in Brooklyn, ruled that the federal government lacked a valid legal basis to challenge key provisions of New York City’s sanctuary policies.
One disputed provision bars city police from holding immigrants at the request of federal immigration authorities. Reyes observed that New York state law already prohibits the practice, leaving the federal government without grounds to challenge the city’s restriction.
The court also upheld rules limiting the disclosure of information about immigrants in local custody, including their release dates, whereabouts and other custody-related details. According to the judge, federal law does not require state and local governments to provide such information to federal immigration authorities.
The administration had argued that federal immigration law overrides the city’s restrictions. Reyes rejected that position, finding that Washington cannot compel local governments to assist with federal immigration enforcement simply by invoking federal law.
The ruling marks a setback for the administration’s legal campaign against sanctuary jurisdictions, which have adopted policies limiting their involvement in federal immigration operations. These measures have become a focal point of the Trump administration’s efforts to carry out its mass deportation agenda.
The Justice Department filed the lawsuit in federal court in New York in July 2025, seeking to challenge the city’s restrictions on cooperation with immigration authorities.
The department had not immediately issued a response to the court’s decision.
