Attorney General Pam Bondi, left, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and New York Attorney General Letitia James (Getty Images)
The DOJ said "these laws pose intolerable obstacles to federal immigration enforcement and directly regulate and discriminate against the Federal Government, in contravention of the Supremacy Clause of the United States Constitution."
"Through these enactments," the DOJ argued, "New York obstructs federal law enforcement and facilitates the evasion of federal law by dangerous criminals, notwithstanding federal agents’ statutory mandate to detain and remove illegal aliens."
The agency said these policies regulate federal officials by necessitating them to obtain criminal arrest warrants for illegal aliens, "even though Congress has authorized federal officials to effect such custody by civil arrest warrants."
The DOJ filed its suit in the federal district court for the Northern District of New York, Albany Division, on Thursday. The agency is asking the court to declare the New York policies invalid and unenforceable under the Supremacy Clause.
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New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)
In response, Jess D'Amelia, a spokesperson for Democrat New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, told Fox News Digital that "New York state cooperates with federal officials in removing convicted criminals from our State."
While she said that "there is no sanctuary in New York for people who commit crimes," she also noted that "it’s important that witnesses, victims and ordinary people can make use of our court system and feel safe in our courthouses and other state facilities."
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"We are reviewing this litigation that the Trump administration just filed, but it appears to be a waste of federal resources," said D’Amelia.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Democrat New York Attorney General Letitia James responded to the suit by telling Fox News Digital that the Protect Our Courts Act "ensures every New Yorker can access our courts and pursue justice without fear, because due process means nothing if people are too afraid to appear in court."
"Immigrants make New York great," said the spokesperson. "Attorney General James will proudly defend this law and all of New York's laws, just as she will continue to defend the rights and dignity of all who call New York home."
Peter Pinedo is a politics writer for Fox News Digital.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/doj-sues-new-york-sanctuary-policy-undermining-immigration-enforcement