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A US District Judge has dismissed a legal challenge brought by the Trump administration against New York policies that prevent immigration officials from making arrests at courthouses.
The Independent reports that Judge Mae D’ZAgostino ruled late on Monday, asserting that the federal government cannot compel states to cooperate with such enforcement efforts. The ruling grants New York’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit, which was one of several legal actions initiated by the Republican administration targeting state and local immigration enforcement policies.
The challenge specifically targeted a 2020 law, known as the Protect Our Courts Act.
This legislation prohibits federal immigration officials from arresting individuals attending or leaving New York courthouses, or those present for proceedings, unless a warrant signed by a judge is ;presented. The Act was enacted in response to enforcement actions at courthouses during President Donald Trump’s first term.
The Department of Justice had claimed that the New York law and two related state executive orders were unconstitutional because they obstructed the execution of federal immigration authorities. But D’;Agostino found that New York’s decision not to participate in enforcing civil immigration law is protected by the 10th Amendment, which sets boundaries on the federal government’s powers.
