DOJ Sues 4 Cities in New Jersey Over ‘Sanctuary’ Policies

Newark, Jersey City, Paterson, and Hoboken, and their city officials, are named in the lawsuit.

Mayor Ras Baraka of Newark speaks to the press near ICE agents at a demonstration outside an immigrant detention centre in Elizabeth, N.J., on May 7, 2025. Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images

The Trump administration on Thursday launched legal action against four Democrat-led cities in New Jersey over their so-called sanctuary policies.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) filed the lawsuit in the New Jersey district court against Newark, Jersey City, Paterson, and Hoboken, along with their city officials. The lawsuit seeks a judgment against them and an injunction to stop them from enforcing sanctuary city policies, according to the 24-page complaint.