Judge Dismisses Justice Department’s Lawsuit Against New Jersey Cities’ Sanctuary Policies

A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit from the Justice Department that targeted four New Jersey cities with ‘sanctuary’ policies protecting undocumented immigrants from federal enforcement. Judge Evelyn Padin ruled the lawsuit flawed for not considering a state directive affecting local cooperation with federal immigration agents.

The lawsuit, filed by the Justice Department against Newark, Jersey City, Hoboken, and Paterson officials, accused them of obstructing federal immigration efforts. It claimed local authorities hindered access to immigrants in custody and restricted officers from cooperating with federal agents. Judge Padin, appointed by President Biden, identified a ‘fundamental flaw’ in the complaint since it ignored the state’s immigrant trust directive guiding local law enforcement’s engagement with federal authorities. This 2008 directive, upheld in prior court rulings, was not addressed in the lawsuit, affecting the federal government’s standing to sue.

Judge Padin dismissed the case without prejudice, allowing the Justice Department to potentially refile. The department declined to comment on the decision.

This ruling coincides with ongoing protests at Delaney Hall in Newark, an immigration facility witnessing near-daily demonstrations. Local officials lauded the decision, noting the immigrant trust directive strengthens police-community relations by fostering trust crucial for crime prevention in immigrant neighborhoods.

Amol Sinha, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey, emphasized the benefits of sanctuary policies in his statement. He noted these policies allow people to access public services without fear of detention or deportation. ‘Public safety improves when community members can report crimes,’ he stated, ‘and public health benefits when they seek medical care.’

Ishani Desai, reporting on breaking news and other subjects, is a journalist in the 2026-27 Times Fellowship, supporting early-career journalists.