ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — The Trump administration has initiated a lawsuit against the state of New York regarding a law that prohibits immigration officials from conducting arrests within New York courthouses. The administration argues that this law intentionally shelters individuals who pose a danger to the public and enables criminal activity.

This legal action, filed in the Northern District of New York, represents the latest development in a series of lawsuits aimed at state and local policies that the Trump administration claims obstruct federal immigration enforcement. U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi stated in a news release that "lawless sanctuary city policies" are largely responsible for the violence witnessed in states like California, asserting that New York is adopting similar policies to hinder the apprehension of undocumented immigrants.

New York's 2020 Protect Our Courts Act serves as a significant focal point in this lawsuit. The legislation was designed to prevent federal immigration officials from arresting individuals at courthouses, both during their arrivals and departures, unless they possess a warrant signed by a judge. State Senator Brad Hoylman, who championed the bill, indicated at the time of its passage that it was a countermeasure to the prior Trump administration’s tactic of utilizing New York's court system as "hunting grounds" for federal enforcement officers.

The Justice Department contends that conducting arrests in or near courthouses is safer for both law enforcement officers and the public. This assertion is based on the premise that individuals entering courthouses are typically screened for weapons and contraband, which ostensibly reduces risks associated with on-site arrests.

In relation to the lawsuit, messages seeking comments were dispatched to Governor Kathy Hochul’s office as well as to Senator Hoylman. Governor Hochul is currently among a coalition of Democratic governors in Washington, D.C., where she is facing inquiries from Congress concerning state policies that limit collaboration with federal immigration authorities.

This ongoing legal battle underscores the complex and contentious relationship between state policies on immigration and federal enforcement initiatives, as distinct political and legal interpretations of immigration law continue to fuel disagreements at multiple levels of government.