Trump administration sues Los Angeles, claiming the city refuses to
cooperate on immigration
[July 01, 2025]
By CHRISTOPHER WEBER
LOS ANGELES (AP) — President Donald Trump’s administration filed suit
Monday against Los Angeles, claiming the city is obstructing the
enforcement of immigration laws and creating a lawless environment with
its sanctuary policies that bar local police from sharing information on
people without legal status.
The lawsuit in U.S. District Court says Los Angeles' “ sanctuary city"
ordinance hinders White House efforts to crack down on what it calls a
“crisis of illegal immigration.” It is the latest in a string of
lawsuits against so-called sanctuary jurisdictions — including New
York,New Jersey and Colorado — that limit cooperation with federal
immigration authorities.
The Los Angeles policy bars city resources from being used for
immigration enforcement. The court filing calls the city ordinance
“illegal” and asks that it be blocked from being enforced.
Chad Mizelle, chief of staff for U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, said
in announcing the latest lawsuit that the administration will not
tolerate any interference with the federal government’s crackdown.
“We will keep enforcing federal immigration law in Los Angeles, whether
or not the city’s government or residents agree with it,” Mizelle said
in a social media post on the platform X.
A message seeking comment on the lawsuit was sent to the office of Mayor
Karen Bass.
A spokesperson for City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto said the city's
ordinance was “carefully drafted” and complies with federal law and
constitutional principles separating state and federal powers.
“Our city remains committed to standing up for our constitutional rights
and the rights of our residents,” said spokesperson Ivor Pine.
Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martinez, a co-author of the Los Angeles
sanctuary law, said Monday that the city would do everything in its
power to protect its residents.
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Residents gather during a community vigil on Monday, June 30, 2025,
to stand in solidarity with an immigrant family after ICE agents
detained Rosalina Luna Vargas on Saturday, June 28, in front of her
children, in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
He said in a statement that “Trump is tearing families apart” and
trying to force cities and towns across the country to help him
carry out his agenda.
“We refuse to stand by and let Donald Trump deport innocent
families,” he added.
The Los Angeles lawsuit claims Trump “won the presidential election
on a platform of deporting the millions of illegal immigrants." Over
the past three weeks, immigration agents have swarmed Southern
California, arresting hundreds of people and prompting protests.
Tens of thousands of people participated in rallies over immigration
raids and the subsequent deployment of the National Guard and
Marines. Los Angeles police have arrested over 100 people on various
charges from throwing rocks at federal officers to setting fire to
Waymo cars equipped with self-driving technology.
“The practical upshot of Los Angeles’ refusal to cooperate with
federal immigration authorities has, since June 6, 2025, been
lawlessness, rioting, looting, and vandalism," the court filing
says.
On June 18, the mayor lifted a curfew she had imposed a week earlier
to prevent vandalism and break-ins during nighttime protests. The
demonstrations had been largely concentrated in a few downtown
blocks that are home to several federal and local government
buildings.
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