Trump Administration Sues Los Angeles Over Sanctuary Policies After Anti-ICE Riots

The Trump administration has launched a major legal offensive against Los Angeles, filing a federal lawsuit Monday that accuses the sanctuary city of undermining federal immigration enforcement and fueling violent anti-ICE riots earlier this month.

The Department of Justice’s lawsuit targets LA’s sanctuary policies, which prohibit city resources from being used to assist federal immigration authorities. According to the DOJ, these policies are unconstitutional and directly contributed to the chaos that erupted in Los Angeles County, where law enforcement officers were attacked, ICE vehicles were torched, and federal property was damaged.

“Sanctuary policies were the driving cause of the violence, chaos, and attacks on law enforcement that Americans recently witnessed in Los Angeles,” said Attorney General Pam Bondi. “Jurisdictions like Los Angeles that flout federal law by prioritizing illegal aliens over American citizens are undermining law enforcement at every level it ends under President Trump.”

Key facts from the lawsuit:

• The Trump administration is suing under the Supremacy Clause of the Constitution, which makes federal law supreme over conflicting local ordinances.

• The lawsuit names LA Mayor Karen Bass, the City Council, and its president Marqueece Harris-Dawson.

• DOJ attorneys argue that LA’s policy of banning city assistance to ICE discriminates against the federal government and shields removable aliens from the law.

Earlier this month, violent riots broke out after ICE conducted a series of arrests across Los Angeles County. Rioters attacked federal agents, destroyed vehicles, and set fires. President Trump quickly deployed Marines and National Guard troops to protect federal facilities and personnel. Dozens were arrested and now face state and federal charges.

U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli, who is spearheading the case, didn’t hold back:

“By assisting removable aliens in evading federal law enforcement, the City’s unlawful and discriminatory ordinance has contributed to a lawless and unsafe environment that this lawsuit will help end.”

LA’s sanctuary policy was first formalized in 2016 after Trump’s election. Since then, the city has refused to cooperate with ICE detainer requests and barred communication with federal immigration authorities leaving criminal aliens on the streets and law-abiding citizens at risk.

Now, the Trump administration is holding LA accountable.

This lawsuit marks a bold step toward restoring law and order in American cities where illegal alien protections have taken precedence over public safety for far too long.

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