Judge dismisses Trump administration lawsuit over LA sanctuary city policy

A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by the Trump administration against Los Angeles, challenging the city's sanctuary policy. U.S. District Judge Fernando Olguin rejected the administration's claim that the ordinance, which limits cooperation with federal immigration authorities, was unconstitutional.

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This order reinforces the well-established principle that local governments have the authority to decide how to use their personnel and resources.

The judge found that the ordinance "controls the actions of the city’s own agents and agencies," rather than unconstitutionally regulating the federal government. The administration had argued that Los Angeles violated federal law by barring city resources from aiding immigration enforcement or collecting citizenship information.

This ruling marks a legal victory for the city. Los Angeles City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto stated that the order "reinforces the well-established principle that local governments have the authority to decide how to use their personnel and resources." She emphasized that the policy, rooted in a 1970s special order, aims to ensure victims and witnesses of crime feel safe reporting incidents to the LAPD, regardless of their immigration status.

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The goal of this ordinance, and of LAPD’s immigration-related policies – which date back to special order 40 in the 1970s – is to encourage victims of and witnesses to crime to feel safe coming forward to seek help from LAPD regardless of their immigration status. It does not obstruct or impede lawful federal immigration enforcement operations.

The Trump administration had filed several lawsuits against similar policies in Democratic-led jurisdictions, with federal judges previously dismissing cases against Boston and Chicago. The administration did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the Los Angeles decision.

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controls the actions of the city’s own agents and agencies