The United States sues Boston over "sanctuary" policies.

Photo of Mark Olsen in Unsplash

On September 4, 2025, the Trump administration's Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against the City of Boston, Mayor Michelle Wu, the Boston Police Department, and its Commissioner, Michael Cox, in the District Court of Massachusetts.

The lawsuit seeks to invalidate the Boston Trust Act—a city ordinance in place since 2014 that prohibits local police from detaining people solely based on their immigration status unless there is a criminal warrant. The federal government argues that this policy hinders immigration enforcement and violates the Supremacy Clause of the Constitution.

Attorney General Pam Bondi said that “the city of Boston and its mayor have been among the worst sanctuary offenders in the U.S.,” accusing them of protecting dangerous undocumented immigrants instead of ensuring justice.

In response, Mayor Michelle Wu called the lawsuit a “politically motivated, unconstitutional attack” and reaffirmed that Boston is “a vibrant, economically and culturally thriving community, and the safest major city in the country.” She added that she will vigorously defend local laws and the constitutional rights of municipalities.

This case is part of a broader legal offensive by the Trump administration against sanctuary policies in other cities such as New York, Los Angeles, Denver, Rochester, and several jurisdictions in New Jersey.

The conflict between the federal government and Boston reflects the ongoing tension between public safety and local autonomy, especially regarding immigration policies and community-based policing practices.

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Sources:

• EFE