The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced Thursday that it has filed a lawsuit against the City of Boston and its mayor, Michelle Wu, over policies the department says conflict with federal immigration law.
In its complaint, the DOJ argues that the Boston Trust Act effectively shields undocumented immigrants from federal authorities, including individuals Washington considers dangerous criminals.
Department attorneys stated that “Wu’s resistance endangers public safety, leading to the release of numerous criminals in Boston who should have been detained for removal from the United States.”
Attorney General Pam Bondi echoed that criticism, accusing Boston and its mayor of being “among the worst sanctuary offenders in America.” According to her, “they are explicitly enforcing policies designed to undermine the rule of law and protect illegal aliens.”
Mayor Michelle Wu strongly rejected the allegations in a statement released Thursday evening
She called the federal action an “unconstitutional attack on our city”.
“Boston is a thriving community, the economic and cultural center of New England, and the safest major city in the country — yet this administration is determined to target our community to advance its own authoritarian agenda. This is our city, and we will vigorously defend our laws and the constitutional rights of municipalities, which have repeatedly been upheld by the courts. We will not back down.”
Wu also pointed out that she testified before Congress in March, emphasizing that Boston’s policies have helped make the Massachusetts capital “one of the safest major cities in America.”
Background and Recent Developments
Earlier this summer, the DOJ ordered Mayor Wu to submit a compliance plan by August. Her office responded by highlighting municipal partnerships and investments that it says play a key role in Boston’s reputation as “the safest major city in the country.”
There is no strict federal definition of “sanctuary policies,” but the term generally refers to limited cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The federal agency, which enforces U.S. immigration laws nationwide, regularly seeks assistance from states and municipalities, especially to carry out large-scale deportations.
