Federal judge throws out Trump administration's suit over Rochester sanctuary policy
An Obama-appointed judge dismissed the Trump administration’s lawsuit claiming Rochester’s sanctuary city rules violate the Supremacy Clause.
The Justice Department filed a suit against Rochester, New York, asserting that the city’s sanctuary ordinances breach the Constitution’s Supremacy Clause by impeding federal immigration duties. The case stemmed from a March 2025 incident where Rochester police aided ICE in detaining a Guatemalan driver, prompting city officials to remove the officers for additional training. Obama-appointed U.S. District Judge Frank Geraci rejected the government’s argument, stating that the local laws simply define the separate roles of municipal and federal authorities and do not control federal action.
He dismissed the complaint with prejudice, barring any future filing on the same grounds. White House spokeswoman Lauren Bis criticized the decision, linking sanctuary policies to public-safety concerns, while Mayor Malik Evans called the ruling a vindication of the city’s legal stance.
Why it matters
The ruling limits federal attempts to force local jurisdictions to enforce immigration laws, affecting sanctuary city debates nationwide.
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