DOJ Threatens Legal Action Against Sanctuary Jurisdictions Nationwide

The Justice Department, led by Attorney General Pam Bondi, has issued letters threatening several cities and states designated as 'sanctuary jurisdictions' with potential loss of federal funding and criminal prosecution if they do not comply with federal immigration enforcement. These letters, sent to jurisdictions including Hoboken, Jersey City, Newark, Paterson, and California, demand actions to end policies that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Mayors and governors, such as Hoboken's Ravi Bhalla, California Governor Gavin Newsom, and Boston's Michelle Wu, have strongly pushed back, defending their sanctuary policies as lawful and constitutionally protected, citing court rulings that uphold their right to limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. Newsom's office highlighted that the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed California's sanctuary law does not conflict with federal statutes, warning DOJ attorneys against unethical prosecutions. Several officials denounced the DOJ's threats as unconstitutional overreach and vowed to resist, while some lawmakers introduced bills to penalize sanctuary jurisdictions federally. The standoff underscores the ongoing clash between the Trump administration's immigration enforcement priorities and local governments' efforts to protect immigrant communities.