A U.S. federal judge has dismissed a Trump administration lawsuit seeking to overturn New York’s Protect Our Courts Act, a 2020 law that restricts immigration arrests in and around state courthouses. In a 41-page ruling, Judge Mae D’Agostino rejected the Justice Department’s argument that the law violated the U.S. Constitution’s supremacy clause, stating that New York was acting to “protect its sovereign interests in the face of undue federal interference.”
The Justice Department had argued that the state law conflicted with federal immigration authority, especially as the Trump administration has intensified enforcement efforts in Democratic-led cities since returning to the White House. ICE agents have increasingly targeted migrants appearing in court, viewing state courthouses as reliable locations for arrests due to mandatory court attendance and security screenings.
Advocates and several state officials have opposed ICE operations at courthouses, warning that such actions deter people from engaging with the justice system. Under New York’s law, ICE officers may make courthouse arrests only with a judicial warrant or court order. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi has criticized such state-level restrictions, arguing they undermine public safety.
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