DOJ sues Rochester over sanctuary city policies

The U.S. Department of Justice, under the Trump administration, has filed a lawsuit against the city of Rochester, New York, alleging that its sanctuary city policies unlawfully impede federal immigration enforcement and violate the Constitution’s Supremacy Clause. The legal action follows an incident in which Rochester police officers assisted federal agents during a traffic stop, which city leaders said contravened local policy prohibiting involvement in federal immigration activities. City officials, including Mayor Malik Evans, maintain that Rochester's sanctuary policies are legally sound and have existed since 1986, reaffirming their commitment to prioritize public safety over federal immigration enforcement. They argue the lawsuit is politically motivated and intend to defend their stance in court, asserting that commandeering local resources for federal purposes would violate the Tenth Amendment. The DOJ seeks to invalidate Rochester's policies and require cooperation with federal authorities, emphasizing national efforts to address illegal immigration. The case highlights ongoing national tensions between federal immigration directives and local autonomy.