The Trump administration has launched a legal battle against the City of Los Angeles, seeking to overturn its sanctuary ordinance that limits cooperation with federal immigration authorities.

In a lawsuit filed Monday in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, the Justice Department accused Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and the City Council of violating the Constitution’s Supremacy Clause and federal laws by restricting local agencies from sharing information with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) unless suspects face serious felony charges.

U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi called the city’s policy a driver of “violence and chaos,” tying it to recent incidents involving law enforcement. The legal move is part of former President Donald Trump’s broader effort to crack down on sanctuary jurisdictions.

The ordinance, which took effect on December 9, 2024, bans the use of city funds or resources for federal immigration enforcement and blocks jails from honoring ICE detainer requests without a judicial warrant.

Mayor Bass and other city officials rejected the administration’s claims. “To characterise Los Angeles as lawless is an outright lie,” Bass said earlier this month. Civil rights groups, including the ACLU and immigrant rights advocates, defended the ordinance as a vital protection for vulnerable communities.

California officials also condemned the lawsuit. Governor Gavin Newsom labeled it “political theatre,” and State Attorney General Rob Bonta cited the Supreme Court’s anti-commandeering doctrine, arguing that federal officers can’t force local agencies to enforce immigration laws.

Legal experts believe the case could set a national precedent on federal-local power dynamics. If successful, the suit could compel Los Angeles to assist ICE more directly. If not, cities nationwide may be encouraged to adopt similar protections.