DOJ sues Maryland over immigration sanctuary law

The U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against the state of Maryland on Thursday, July 9, 2026, challenging a state law that limits local law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration authorities. The legal action, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, represents the latest effort by the Trump administration to dismantle so-called sanctuary policies it argues obstruct federal immigration enforcement.

The lawsuit specifically targets Maryland's Community Trust Act, which took effect on May 31, 2026. The law prevents local police and correctional facilities from holding individuals on behalf of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) without a judicial warrant, with exceptions for those convicted of felonies or sex offenses. The Justice Department contends that by enforcing this act, Maryland is unlawfully interfering with federal law, violating the Constitution's Supremacy Clause, which establishes that federal law supersedes state law.

In a statement, Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward said federal immigration officers enforce laws passed by Congress. He argued that when sanctuary jurisdictions enact laws to shield...