NY Attorney General Defends NYC Sanctuary City Laws After Federal Challenge

Letitia James files amicus brief arguing sanctuary laws are essential for public safety and do not limit cooperation on criminal investigations.

Feb. 24, 2026 at 9:33pm

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New York Attorney General Letitia James filed an amicus brief on Tuesday defending New York City's sanctuary city laws, arguing that the laws are essential to preserve public safety and that they do not limit cooperation between local and federal authorities on criminal investigations. The brief comes after a July 2025 Department of Justice (DOJ) lawsuit against the city challenging the sanctuary city laws.

Why it matters

The immigration crackdown by the Trump administration has raised questions about the legality of ICE tactics and outraged New York officials. Sanctuary city laws are seen as key to building trust between local law enforcement and immigrant communities, which makes residents more likely to report crimes and cooperate as witnesses.

The details

The amicus brief supports New York City's motion to dismiss the DOJ's July 2025 lawsuit, which argued that sanctuary city laws 'reflect an intentional effort to obstruct federal law enforcement.' James argues the laws do not prohibit local collaboration with ICE on criminal matters, and that they are essential for public safety by encouraging immigrants to report crimes and cooperate without fear of deportation.

  • On July 2025, the Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against New York City challenging its sanctuary city laws.
  • In September 2025, New York City filed a motion to dismiss the DOJ lawsuit.
  • On Tuesday, February 24, 2026, Attorney General Letitia James filed an amicus brief defending the city's sanctuary laws.

The players

Letitia James

The Attorney General of New York State who filed the amicus brief defending New York City's sanctuary city laws.

Zohran Mamdani

The Mayor of New York City, who supports the city's sanctuary laws.

Kathy Hochul

The Governor of New York, who has introduced legislation to ban ICE from deputizing local law enforcement to assist in immigration enforcement.

Donald Trump

The former President of the United States whose administration cracked down on immigration and targeted sanctuary cities.

Department of Justice (DOJ)

The federal agency that filed a lawsuit against New York City challenging its sanctuary city laws.

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What they’re saying

“New York City's sanctuary laws help keep our communities safe. Our city was built by immigrants, and this administration's attempts to overturn local laws that protect them are unjust and unconstitutional. I will always defend New York's immigrant communities and uphold the rule of law.”

— Letitia James, New York Attorney General (amny.com)

What’s next

The judge presiding over the DOJ's lawsuit against New York City will decide whether to dismiss the case based on the city's motion and Attorney General James' amicus brief.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing tensions between federal immigration enforcement and local efforts to protect immigrant communities. It underscores the importance of sanctuary city laws in building trust between law enforcement and immigrant residents, which is crucial for public safety.