The Department of Justice announced Thursday it would sue the city of Boston over its immigration policies.The lawsuit, filed in federal court, also names Mayor Michelle Wu and Boston police Commissioner Michael Cox.The lawsuit claims the Boston Trust Act, which prevents local police from cooperating with federal immigration enforcement, violates the Constitution.”Cities cannot obstruct the federal government from enforcing immigration laws,” the lawsuit reads. “When that occurs, a city breaks the law. The City of Boston is doing just that. Wu has stated several times that Boston would not adhere to the Trump administration’s sanctuary city policies, as the president threatens to deploy National Guard troops to several U.S. cities.”Wu responded to the lawsuit, saying that the city would not yield to the federal government. “This unconstitutional attack on our city is not a surprise. Boston is a thriving community, the economic and cultural hub of New England, and the safest major city in the country—but this administration is intent on attacking our community to advance their own authoritarian agenda,” Wu wrote. “This is our City, and we will vigorously defend our laws and the constitutional rights of cities, which have been repeatedly upheld in courts across the country.Wu has stated several times that Boston would not adhere to Trump’s immigration policies. In an August letter to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, Wu said that Boston would not back down. “On behalf of the people of Boston, and in solidarity with cities and communities targeted by this federal administration for our refusal to bow down to unconstitutional threats and unlawful coercion, we affirm our support for each other and for our democracy,” Wu wrote in an August letter to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi. “Boston will never back down from being a beacon of freedom and a home for everyone.”Boston mayoral candidate Josh Kraft also responded to the lawsuit, releasing the following statement that read in part: “The courts have rightfully shut down the use of the National Guard in American cities and Boston must stand in defense of our laws and communities while continuing to work with law enforcement to keep all of our residents safe.”The MassGOP also responded to the lawsuit, saying that Wu and Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey should heed the warning: “Today’s lawsuit is a reminder that Massachusetts does not operate in a vacuum. We are a nation of laws, and those laws must protect our residents above all else,” GOP Chair Amy Carnevale said. “Mayor Wu, Governor Healey, and the state legislature should heed this warning and remove these open-border policies from the books to keep violent illegal alien criminals off our streets for good.”Massachusetts Rep. Ayanna Pressley also issued a statement, calling the lawsuit “baseless.””Boston is a safe, vibrant, and welcoming city. We will not be intimidated by this administration’s illegal scare tactics, and we will not back down as they continue terrorizing our communities,” Pressley said.
BOSTON —
The Department of Justice announced Thursday it would sue the city of Boston over its immigration policies.
The lawsuit, filed in federal court, also names Mayor Michelle Wu and Boston police Commissioner Michael Cox.
The lawsuit claims the Boston Trust Act, which prevents local police from cooperating with federal immigration enforcement, violates the Constitution.
“Cities cannot obstruct the federal government from enforcing immigration laws,” the lawsuit reads. “When that occurs, a city breaks the law. The City of Boston is doing just that. Wu has stated several times that Boston would not adhere to the Trump administration’s sanctuary city policies, as the president threatens to deploy National Guard troops to several U.S. cities.”
Wu responded to the lawsuit, saying that the city would not yield to the federal government.
“This unconstitutional attack on our city is not a surprise. Boston is a thriving community, the economic and cultural hub of New England, and the safest major city in the country—but this administration is intent on attacking our community to advance their own authoritarian agenda,” Wu wrote. “This is our City, and we will vigorously defend our laws and the constitutional rights of cities, which have been repeatedly upheld in courts across the country.
Wu has stated several times that Boston would not adhere to Trump’s immigration policies.
In an August letter to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, Wu said that Boston would not back down.
“On behalf of the people of Boston, and in solidarity with cities and communities targeted by this federal administration for our refusal to bow down to unconstitutional threats and unlawful coercion, we affirm our support for each other and for our democracy,” Wu wrote in an August letter to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi. “Boston will never back down from being a beacon of freedom and a home for everyone.”
Boston mayoral candidate Josh Kraft also responded to the lawsuit, releasing the following statement that read in part:
“The courts have rightfully shut down the use of the National Guard in American cities and Boston must stand in defense of our laws and communities while continuing to work with law enforcement to keep all of our residents safe.”
The MassGOP also responded to the lawsuit, saying that Wu and Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey should heed the warning:
“Today’s lawsuit is a reminder that Massachusetts does not operate in a vacuum. We are a nation of laws, and those laws must protect our residents above all else,” GOP Chair Amy Carnevale said. “Mayor Wu, Governor Healey, and the state legislature should heed this warning and remove these open-border policies from the books to keep violent illegal alien criminals off our streets for good.”