US Judge Dismisses Trump Administration’s Lawsuit Challenging Los Angeles Sanctuary City Policy

A federal judge in the United States has dismissed a lawsuit filed by the Trump administration challenging Los Angeles’ sanctuary city policy, marking a significant legal victory for the city.

The decision was announced by Los Angeles City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto, who said the ruling reaffirmed the authority of local governments to decide how their resources and personnel are used. The case was dismissed by US District Judge Fernando Olguin, who rejected the federal government’s arguments that the city’s policy unlawfully interfered with federal immigration enforcement.

The sanctuary city ordinance, signed by Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass in December 2024, prevents city employees and resources from being used to assist federal immigration authorities in determining a person’s immigration status or sharing certain city-held information for immigration enforcement purposes.

The Trump administration filed the lawsuit in June 2025, arguing that the ordinance discriminated against the federal government and was preempted by federal immigration laws. The challenge came amid widespread protests in Los Angeles against the administration’s mass deportation policies.

Judge Olguin ruled that the ordinance regulates the conduct of city officials rather than the federal government itself. He also found that the policy does not prevent city officials from sharing information they already possess, undermining the administration’s claim that federal law overrides the ordinance.

The court allowed the federal government to file an amended complaint by July 3, 2026. However, Mayor Bass and other city officials were permanently removed from the case, leaving the City of Los Angeles as the sole remaining defendant if the lawsuit is refiled.