Hoboken Mayor Tells Bondi He Won't Comply With 'Sanctuary City' Reversal

HOBOKEN, NJ — Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla sent a letter this week to Attorney General Pamela Bondi, saying the city will not reverse its laws passed in 2018 regarding immigrant protections, despite demands from federal officials.

Hoboken is one of at least 18 cities across the country that has passed laws colloquially known as "Sanctuary Jurisdiction" or "Fair and Welcoming City" rules in the last 10 years.

U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi published a list earlier this month of states, counties, and cities that have passed such laws, saying the jurisdictions must work with the federal government on immigration laws and on enforcement.

In a letter dated Aug. 13, posted below, Bondi's office gave Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla a deadline of Aug. 19 to respond.

"Individuals...using their official position to obstruct federal immigration enforcement efforts and facilitating or inducing illegal immigration may be subject to criminal charges," she wrote, saying that the federal government and local U.S. attorneys' offices should investigate such incidents.

The letter also noted that certain conditions regarding immigration could be added to federal grants received by the cities in question.

Bhalla's letter in response on Tuesday — posted below — said that Bondi's office should not have emailed him directly, as he and the city are currently involved in litigation with her office, as are several other cities. He said threatening local officials with criminal charges wasn't legal.

Bhalla And Other Mayors Respond

He said he has referred the matter to the Florida Bar and to New Jersey's Office of Attorney Ethics. "We will not capitulate to your demand that we rescind our policies and in this case our morals and values," he wrote in his letter. "Similar to the rest of America, Hoboken is a city of immigrants."

He said that in light of recent events, the city may look to revise their laws to solidify protections.

On Tuesday, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu also said she will not comply with all of the federal government's demands, according to published reports.

See Both Letters

See the letters from Bondi and Bhalla, in full, below.

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