On Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026, New York Attorney General Letitia James stepped into the legal fight over New York City’s sanctuary laws, filing an amicus brief that backs the city’s limits on cooperation with federal civil-immigration enforcement and urges a federal judge to toss the Justice Department’s lawsuit. James is pitching the move as a defense of public safety and of the trust between immigrant communities and local authorities.
What the brief argues
The filing argues that New York City’s policies make it more likely that immigrants will report crimes, serve as witnesses and seek city services without fear, while still allowing local authorities to work with federal partners on criminal matters. According to the Attorney General's Office, the brief asks the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York to grant the city’s motion to dismiss the Justice Department’s suit.
The federal challenge
The Justice Department filed its lawsuit against New York City in July 2025, arguing that the city’s sanctuary rules violate the Constitution’s Supremacy Clause and, as the DOJ put it, "reflect an intentional effort to obstruct federal law enforcement." The complaint names city officials and seeks a court order blocking enforcement of the local policies, according to the Department of Justice.
Local context: 26 Federal Plaza and Albany's bill
Local advocates and officials have pointed to recent ICE arrests and reports of cramped holding rooms at 26 Federal Plaza in Lower Manhattan as a key reason sanctuary policies matter for community safety, as reported by amNY. At the same time, Governor Kathy Hochul last month introduced the "Local Cops, Local Crimes Act," which would bar 287(g) deputizations and restrict the use of local jails for civil immigration detentions, according to the governor's office.
Legal stakes
James' brief leans on federalism and argues there is a "strong presumption" against federal preemption of traditional state and local police powers, saying sanctuary rules do not block cooperation on criminal investigations. "New York City’s sanctuary laws help keep our communities safe," James said in the office's release summarizing the filing, a line the brief uses to frame its public-safety defense.
What’s next
City Hall filed a motion to dismiss the DOJ complaint in September 2025, and James’ amicus brief is intended to bolster that motion as the litigation moves forward. The case remains pending in federal court and could determine how far the federal government can compel local agencies to assist with civil immigration enforcement, a shift that would have broad practical effects for policing and immigrant access to services, as reported by amNY.
For now, the filing adds more legal muscle to the city's defense and draws a clear state-level line against federal efforts to force local cooperation. The court’s ruling, which could take months, is likely to be watched closely by city officials, law enforcement leaders and immigrant-rights groups across New York.
