New York Attorney General Letitia James scored a significant legal win Monday, Nov. 17, 2025, after a federal judge dismissed the Trump administration’s lawsuit challenging the state’s protections against immigration arrests in courthouses.
U.S. District Judge Mae D’Agostino ruled that the federal government cannot force states to cooperate with civil immigration enforcement, granting New York’s motion to dismiss the case. The lawsuit had targeted the 2020 Protect Our Courts Act, which bars federal immigration agents from making arrests at state courthouses without a judicial warrant.
“This ruling ensures that anyone can use New York’s state courts without being targeted by federal authorities,” James said in a statement. “Everyone deserves to seek justice without fear.”
The legislation was originally enacted in response to aggressive enforcement actions at courthouses during former President Trump’s first term. The Department of Justice argued that the law and related executive orders were unconstitutional because they obstructed federal immigration operations.
Judge D’Agostino disagreed, citing the Tenth Amendment, which prevents the federal government from compelling states to use local resources for federal enforcement.
“No federal law mandates that state and local officials generally assist or cooperate with federal immigration enforcement efforts. Nor could it,” the judge wrote.
The ruling reinforces New York’s stance that immigrant communities have the right to access courts without fear of federal intervention. James, a Democrat, has made protecting immigrant rights a hallmark of her tenure.
The Justice Department has not yet indicated whether it plans to appeal the decision.
This case marks another chapter in the ongoing tension between federal immigration authorities and states pushing back on enforcement measures that could put local residents at risk.
For James, the victory is both legal and symbolic: a reaffirmation of New York’s commitment to safeguard its residents in the face of federal overreach.
