LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Trump administration initiated a lawsuit on Monday against Los Angeles, accusing the city of impeding immigration law enforcement and fostering a lawless environment through its sanctuary policies, which prevent local police from sharing information about individuals without legal status.
The U.S. District Court lawsuit claims that Los Angeles’ “sanctuary city” ordinance obstructs White House attempts to address what it describes as a “crisis of illegal immigration.” This legal action adds to a series of lawsuits aimed at sanctuary jurisdictions like New York, New Jersey, and Colorado, which limit cooperation with federal immigration officials.
Los Angeles’ policy prohibits the use of city resources for immigration enforcement. The legal filing labels the city ordinance as “illegal” and requests that its enforcement be halted.
Chad Mizelle, chief of staff for U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, said in announcing the latest lawsuit that the administration will not tolerate any interference with the federal government’s crackdown.
“We will keep enforcing federal immigration law in Los Angeles, whether or not the city’s government or residents agree with it,” Mizelle said in a social media post on the platform X.
Messages seeking comment on the lawsuit were sent to the offices of Mayor Karen Bass and City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto.
Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martinez, a co-author of the Los Angeles sanctuary law, said Monday that the city would do everything in its power to protect its residents.
He said in a statement that “Trump is tearing families apart” and trying to force cities and towns across the country to help him carry out his agenda.
“We refuse to stand by and let Donald Trump deport innocent families,” he added.
The Los Angeles lawsuit claims Trump “won the presidential election on a platform of deporting the millions of illegal immigrants.” Over the past three weeks, immigration agents have swarmed Southern California, arresting hundreds of people and prompting protests.
Tens of thousands of people participated in rallies over immigration raids and the subsequent deployment of the National Guard and Marines. Los Angeles police have arrested over 100 people on various charges from throwing rocks at federal officers to setting fire to Waymo cars equipped with self-driving technology.
“The practical upshot of Los Angeles’ refusal to cooperate with federal immigration authorities has, since June 6, 2025, been lawlessness, rioting, looting, and vandalism,” the court filing says.
On June 18, the mayor lifted a curfew she had imposed a week earlier to prevent vandalism and break-ins during nighttime protests. The demonstrations had been largely concentrated in a few downtown blocks that are home to several federal and local government buildings.
