CITYWIDE — BROOKLYN DEFENDER SERVICES, the Legal Aid Society and several other immigrant advocacy groups have filed a joint amicus brief in support of New York City’s motion to dismiss a lawsuit brought by the United States Department of Justice challenging the city’s sanctuary laws, which prohibit local law enforcement and city agencies from cooperating with federal immigration enforcement efforts.
According to the coalition, the city’s sanctuary laws ensure that all New Yorkers, regardless of immigration status, have access to essential government services including food assistance, housing programs, public health services, domestic violence shelters and more. The amicus brief argues that these laws provide critical protections to the city’s more than three million immigrant residents, allowing them to fully participate in and engage with their communities. Removing these protections, the brief warns, would cause a chilling effect that would dissuade immigrants from interacting with city officials and agencies for fear of their immigration status being shared with federal immigration authorities.
Given the current federal administration’s recent efforts to dramatically increase immigration-related arrests, detentions and removals, the amicus argues that city officials should not be required to alter city laws in service of federal action that is wholly incompatible with the city’s own policy priorities.
“New York is more robust, vibrant, and safe when people trust local government,” said Lucas Marquez, Director of Civil Rights and Law Reform at Brooklyn Defender Services, who pledged to continue defending New York City’s sanctuary laws.