Trump administration sues Los Angeles over sanctuary city immigration policies
NBC23 hrs
DOJ Sues Los Angeles Over Sanctuary City Immigration Policies
Above: Pam Bondi at the White House on June 27, 2025. Image copyright: Joe Raedle/Getty Images
The Spin
Republican narrative
Los Angeles is deliberately obstructing federal law enforcement and creating chaos by refusing to cooperate with immigration authorities. The city's sanctuary policies directly led to violent riots that endangered officers and cost taxpayers millions. Federal law must be enforced uniformly, and cities cannot pick which laws to follow.
Democratic narrative
The federal government is militarizing immigration enforcement and targeting communities with excessive force. Los Angeles is protecting vulnerable immigrants from aggressive raids that separate families and terrorize neighborhoods. The deployment of troops against peaceful protesters represents government overreach.