It seeks to block federal efforts to challenge state measures on immigration enforcement, public safety and police accountability.
On Tuesday, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James filed a lawsuit against the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump to defend laws establishing measures on immigration and law enforcement operations.
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The complaint states that the Trump administration has threatened to challenge laws “that protect public safety, transparency, and state and local resources.”
One of the laws at issue prohibits local, state and federal law enforcement officers from concealing their faces with masks while interacting with the public and also requires them to identify themselves clearly.
“By hiding their faces and refusing to wear identification, federal immigration officers are putting New Yorkers at risk and intentionally evading accountability,” James said.
“A badge carries with it the responsibility to maintain the public’s trust. People deserve to know who is enforcing the law and to ensure that local resources are being used to protect public safety,” Hochul said.
The Trump regime sent the National Guard to protect the Reflecting Pool. Your tax dollars at work. pic.twitter.com/MaKBb1286l
— Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) June 20, 2026
James and Hochul also highlighted that masked federal immigration officers “have often failed to clearly identify themselves while carrying out enforcement operations, fueling fear and undermining public trust.”
In that regard, they cited as an example a high-profile immigration raid in New York City’s Chinatown neighborhood in 2025, when masked officers detained several people while being confronted by passersby.
Another of the bills referenced by Hochul and James prohibits the detention of individuals solely for federal civil immigration violations, as well as the use of public grants for migrant detention centers holding people for such offenses.
According to the plaintiffs, after the package of measures was enacted, the Trump administration pledged to challenge the legislation, and last week notified the state of its intention to file a lawsuit against it.
Hochul and James are asking the court to declare the federal government’s efforts to block the implementation of these measures a violation of the Tenth Amendment, under which New York “has the sovereign right to enact laws that protect public safety and regulate conduct within its borders.”
The US has announced punitive measures against Brazil, which Trump says is no longer a “friendly nation”. Widely viewed as election meddling against Lula, some analysts also see it as a veiled threat against Brazil’s biggest trade partner: China. My story @telesurenglish pic.twitter.com/KEuVfwuivG
— BrianMier (@BrianMteleSUR) June 14, 2026
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Source: EFE
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