A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by the Trump administration challenging Rochester, New York’s practices as a “sanctuary city.”
Judge Frank Geraci ruled Thursday that the lawsuit became moot when the city made changes to its policies, making them stronger, after the lawsuit was filed. He gave the Justice Department a month to amend its lawsuit to reflect the changes.
A lawsuit was filed against the administration Western New York City in April, alleging that its rules for city employees violated the U.S. Constitution’s Supremacy Clause by preventing them from helping enforce federal immigration laws.
The lawsuit was filed after Rochester Mayor Malik Evans said local police officers who assisted U.S. Border Patrol agents with a traffic stop in March appeared to have violated city policy.
“The challenged laws and policies are designed to intentionally impede the ability of federal immigration officers to carry out their responsibilities in those jurisdictions,” the Justice Department wrote in the lawsuit that sought to block the city from implementing it.
But in Thursday’s ruling, Geraci said the 2017 policies that were targeted were no longer in effect, and that although the versions approved in August strengthened the city’s self-designation as a sanctuary city, the lawsuit could not move forward as it was filed.
He said the administration could file an amended complaint by December 19, “assuming the United States wishes to challenge the 2025 amendments on the same grounds as the 2017 guidance.”
The Justice Department did not immediately say whether it would file an amended complaint.
“The department is reviewing the decision,” a spokesman said via email on Friday. “We will continue to enforce federal immigration law and work to eliminate harmful sanctuary policies across the country that put the American people at risk,” he added.
Rochester became a sanctuary city in 1986 and reaffirmed the designation in 2017 during President Donald Trump’s first term.
“The City intends to remain in full compliance with federal and state laws while vigorously preserving our local independence and rights under the Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution,” Evans said in a statement.
The city is located less than 10 miles from Lake Ontario, which straddles the US-Canadian border.