Trump Sues Los Angeles for Not Helping Deportation Push
By Reuters | 30 Jun, 2025

The zealous and destructive push to deport migrant workers has put Trump at odds with Los Angeles and other so-called sanctuary cities that refuse to commit resources to help.

Riders organized by Connecting Compton ride in a 'cabalgata' for human rights, including Lynwood council member Luis Cuellar, who is holding a U.S. flag, following multiple detentions by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), in the Los Angeles County city of Compton, California, U.S., June 22, 2025. REUTERS/Jill Connelly/File Photo

President Donald Trump's administration sued Los Angeles on Monday over policies limiting city cooperation with federal immigration authorities, continuing a confrontation over the Republican's deportation efforts in a largely Democratic city.

The lawsuit, filed by the U.S. Justice Department, alleges that policies barring city resources from aiding in immigration enforcement operations or collecting information about individuals' citizenship status violate federal law.

"We will keep enforcing federal immigration law in Los Angeles, whether or not the city's government or residents agree with it," Chad Mizelle, a senior Justice Department official, said on social media. "And we will not tolerate any interference with the federal government's duty to enforce the law."

The lawsuit comes weeks after Trump deployed California National Guard troops to quell protests in Los Angeles against deportation operations. The demonstrations were limited to a small section of the city, but included some instances of looting, property destruction and attacks on law enforcement.

A spokesperson for Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the lawsuit.

California officials, including Bass, accused Trump of inflaming tensions and exacerbating a situation local authorities had under control.

The complaint marked the latest instance of the Justice Department under Trump challenging so-called sanctuary city policies that prevent local jurisdictions from sharing information or participating in immigration raids.

The lawsuit blames Los Angeles' policies for sparking confrontations that led to this month's protests, which came after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducted raids on workplaces in and around the city.

(Reporting by Jasper Ward and Andrew Goudsward; Editing by Scott Malone and Sandra Maler)