New York Attorney General Letitia James is stepping into a legal battle between the U.S. Department of Justice and the City of Rochester, defending the city’s right to limit local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.
In a July 30 court filing, James urged the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York to dismiss the DOJ’s lawsuit, which challenges Rochester’s so-called “sanctuary city” law. James argued that such laws are both constitutional and critical to public safety, asserting that local governments have the authority to prioritize their own enforcement needs under the Tenth Amendment.
“For years, these laws in Rochester and cities throughout New York have kept New Yorkers safe,” James said. “The Trump administration’s attacks on immigrant communities are cruel and shameful. Rochester’s law is constitutional, and my office will continue to use every tool at our disposal to protect New Yorkers.”
Rochester first enacted its sanctuary law in 1986 and strengthened it in 2017. The law limits local agency involvement in federal civil immigration enforcement but does not restrict cooperation on criminal matters. The DOJ argues that the law is preempted by federal authority, but James countered that local control of public safety is protected by the Constitution.
James also emphasized the real-world consequences of the DOJ’s challenge. She said the law builds trust between law enforcement and immigrant communities, allowing people to report crimes, serve as witnesses, and seek medical care without fear of deportation. Citing studies, her office argued that when local police act as immigration agents, it discourages community cooperation and can even lead to increased victimization and public health risks.
A former Rochester police chief also weighed in, noting that the city’s 2017 update aimed to prevent local officers from being pulled away from pressing concerns like reducing gun violence.
James called on the court to uphold Rochester’s policy and issue a judgment in the city’s favor.
The action is part of a broader push by James to defend immigrant rights. In July alone, she joined multiple multistate coalitions challenging federal immigration enforcement practices and defending programs supporting unaccompanied minors and individuals from nations like Venezuela, Cuba, and Haiti.
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