DOJ sues Boston, Mayor Michelle Wu over sanctuary immigration policies [View all]
Source: ABC News
September 4, 2025, 7:46 PM
The Department of Justice filed a lawsuit Thursday against the city of Boston, Mayor Michelle Wu and others in its latest challenge to sanctuary policies for undocumented immigrants. The lawsuit alleges the city's policies are an "intentional effort to obstruct" the enforcement of federal immigration laws.
"The City of Boston and its Mayor have been among the worst sanctuary offenders in America -- they explicitly enforce policies designed to undermine law enforcement and protect illegal aliens from justice," said Attorney General Pam Bondi. "If Boston won't protect its citizens from illegal alien crime, this Department of Justice will." The Boston Police Department and its police commissioner, Michael Cox, are also named as defendants in the lawsuit, filed Thursday in federal court.
The complaint focuses on the Boston Trust Act, which was originally enacted in 2014 and allows Boston police to collaborate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement "on issues of significant public safety, such as human trafficking, child exploitation, drug and weapons trafficking, and cybercrimes, while refraining from involvement in civil immigration enforcement," the city said.
A resolution adopted by the Boston City Council in December 2024 that reaffirmed the Trust Act states the measure's provisions "have been instrumental in fostering a safe and welcoming environment for all residents, ensuring that immigrants can engage with local law enforcement without fear of deportation, thereby enhancing public safety and community trust."
Read more: https://abcnews.go.com/US/doj-sues-boston-sanctuary-immigration-policies/story?id=125273765
Link to SUIT (PDF) - https://www.justice.gov/opa/media/1413161/dl
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