A federal judge in California has dismissed a lawsuit filed by President Donald Trump’s administration against Los Angeles, challenging a city ordinance that restricts local cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
Judge Rejects Constitutional Argument
U.S. District Judge Fernando Olguin rejected the administration’s argument that the city’s policy was unconstitutional, ruling on Saturday that the ordinance “controls the actions of the City’s own agents and agencies” rather than attempting to regulate the federal government. The judge granted the administration permission to file an amended complaint.
The lawsuit, filed last June, alleged that Los Angeles violated federal law by enacting policies that bar city resources from being used to aid immigration enforcement operations or collect information about individuals’ citizenship status. The legal action came weeks after Trump deployed troops to quell protests in Los Angeles against deportation operations.
City Attorney Celebrates Ruling
Los Angeles City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto said in a statement on Monday that the ruling “reinforces the well-established principle that local governments have the authority to decide how to use their personnel and resources.”
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the decision.
Broader Context of Sanctuary Lawsuits
The Trump administration has filed several lawsuits challenging similar policies adopted in Democratic-led jurisdictions. Federal judges have also dismissed lawsuits brought by the administration against the cities of Boston and Chicago, indicating a pattern of judicial resistance to the administration’s efforts to compel local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.
