Boston moves to dismiss federal lawsuit over ‘sanctuary city’ policy

The City of Boston moved to dismiss the federal government’s lawsuit challenging its sanctuary city policy Monday, arguing the policy is constitutionally protected and the U.S.’s lawsuit failed to show a conflict with federal law.

“The Trust Act requires the Boston Police Department to prioritize criminal law enforcement, while leaving civil immigration enforcement to federal officials,” the city’s lawsuit states. “This structure is not, and could not be, in conflict with or preempted by the Immigration and Nationality Act—which creates a system for voluntary state and local cooperation with the federal government. Nor does the Trust Act regulate or discriminate against the federal government. Rather, the Trust Act is an exercise of Boston’s authority protected by the Tenth Amendment.”

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