Democrats across America thought they had found the perfect loophole. They declared their cities “sanctuaries.” They thought they could ignore federal immigration law. But something changed in January when President Trump returned to the White House. Now, these sanctuary politicians are learning a harsh lesson about who really holds the power in our constitutional system.
The latest battleground? New York’s courthouses. State politicians have literally made it a crime for federal agents to do their jobs. This isn’t just about immigration anymore. It’s about whether states can declare themselves above the law.
On Thursday, the Department of Justice dropped a legal hammer on New York State. They filed a lawsuit to stop what Attorney General Pamela Bondi called “lawless sanctuary city policies.” The target is New York’s so-called “Protect Our Courts Act.” This law shields illegal immigrants from arrest at or near courthouses. And here’s the kicker—it actually threatens federal agents with criminal prosecution if they dare to enforce immigration law.
From ‘Department of Justice’:
Lawless sanctuary city policies are the root cause of the violence that Americans have seen in California, and New York State is similarly employing sanctuary city policies to prevent illegal aliens from apprehension. This latest lawsuit in a series of sanctuary city litigation underscores the Department of Justice’s commitment to keeping Americans safe and aggressively enforcing the law.
Think about that for a moment. New York politicians have made it illegal for federal officers to arrest dangerous criminals. Why? Simply because they’re near a courthouse. As Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate explained in the complaint, “New York obstructs federal law enforcement and facilitates the evasion of federal law by dangerous criminals, notwithstanding federal agents’ statutory mandate to detain and remove illegal aliens.”
Democrats Criminalizing Federal Law Enforcement
The crazy thinking of sanctuary policies reaches new heights with this courthouse protection scheme. Federal officials make a good point. Courthouses are actually the safest places to make arrests. Everyone entering has already gone through metal detectors. They’ve been through security screening. There’s less risk of violence. There’s less chance of someone running into traffic. There’s less danger to bystanders.
But New York Democrats don’t care about safety. They care about protecting illegal immigrants at any cost. Even if it means handcuffing the very people sworn to protect American citizens. The law doesn’t just politely ask federal agents to stay away. It threatens them with criminal charges for doing their job. The job American taxpayers pay them to do.
This isn’t happening in isolation. The Trump administration has already filed similar lawsuits against sanctuary cities in New Jersey. They even had to take action against Texas over in-state tuition for illegal immigrants. Chicago is also in the crosshairs. The message is clear: the days of ignoring federal law are over.
Common Sense vs. Sanctuary Madness
The real-world consequences of these policies are playing out in dramatic fashion. The Immigrant Defense Project supports sanctuary policies. They say federal buildings are now “lined with families crying, scared, and confused” as immigration enforcement returns to courthouses. But here’s what they won’t tell you. Many of those being arrested are criminals with serious records. They thought they could hide behind New York’s protective shield.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul dismissed the lawsuit as a “waste of federal resources.” She claims there’s “no sanctuary in New York for people who commit crimes.” But her words ring hollow. Her state’s law literally prevents federal agents from arresting criminal illegal immigrants. If there’s truly no sanctuary for criminals, why make it illegal to arrest them?
The numbers tell the story. During just the first week of May, Operation Take Back America showed results. U.S. Attorneys along the southwestern border charged more than 1,300 illegal aliens with immigration-related crimes. That’s what happens when federal law enforcement is actually allowed to do its job.
The message from Washington is unmistakable: enforce the law or face the consequences. For too long, sanctuary politicians have put illegal immigrants ahead of American citizens. That era is over.
Key Takeaways
- New York made it criminal for federal agents to arrest illegals at courthouses
- DOJ lawsuit challenges states declaring themselves above federal immigration law
- Trump administration systematically dismantling sanctuary policies nationwide
- Constitutional crisis: states can’t nullify federal law enforcement authority
Sources: Justice Department, Straight Arrow News
