Hoboken Mayor Will Fight Federal Suit Over 'Sanctuary Cities,' He Says

HOBOKEN, NJ — Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla — who had previously said that local law enforcement won't participate in searches for immigrants without a warrant — pledged Friday to fight back against a lawsuit filed by the federal government against four New Jersey cities.

The lawsuit, reported first by Bloomberg, was filed in federal court late on Thursday.

According to the story, the government filed in Newark claiming that four of New Jersey's "sanctuary cities" — Newark, Jersey City, Paterson, and Hoboken — were blocking the government's enforcement plans regarding immigrants. READ MORE: Trump Targets Sanctuary Cities, Immigrants Fight Back

Federal courts have also blocked certain actions by the Trump administration to detain and deport immigrants, Reuters reported this week, saying the administration had violated a court order in one case. The administration moved to end some programs allowing immigrants to remain in the country and hopes to remove some protections, the Guardian reported this week.

Bhalla's Statement

Bhalla gave a statement late Friday saying, "Our city’s tax dollars, police, and other city personnel will not be commandeered by the federal government to enforce federal immigration orders — especially those that violate the constitutional rights of our residents and non-resident visitors. It also means that in Hoboken, the law shall be applied equally regardless of immigration status. This is the American way.

"The Trump administration’s treatment of immigrants, lawful residents, and countless citizens is truly disgraceful and often, unconstitutional. Families have been senselessly torn apart, and legal residents who have not been proven to have committed any crimes have been deported to jails overseas without due process."

He added, "Hoboken is a city that has been, and continues to be, built by immigrants. These immigrants are our neighbors, parents of our children’s classmates, employees of our schools, and local businesses owners. Our city's resources will not be used to harass or detain these valued community members who we see every day in our schools, public buildings, places of worship, and who contribute constructively to our city and obey our laws."

He said the city will fight in court.

"To be clear," he said, "we will not back down."

Rep. Rob Menendez released a statement later, saying, "Two weeks ago today in Newark, we saw a blatant act of intimidation by the Trump Administration meant to silence me and my colleagues. And we resisted. Now, the Trump Administration is attempting yet again to intimidate elected leaders and undermine the values that define our great state. But we will not bend to the Trump Administration - not today, not tomorrow, not ever."

PRIOR REPORTING: Trump Targets Sanctuary Cities, Immigrants Fight Back