Latest news with #AndreSayegh
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Feds sue four New Jersey Dem mayors for policies blocking immigration enforcement
The Trump administration is suing, clockwise from top left, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop, Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh, and Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla, among others, in a complaint that targets the city's ordinances that protect undocumented immigrants from detention and deportation. (Photos by Andrew Harnik/Getty and Fran Baltzer, Danielle Richards, and Reena Rose Sibayan for New Jersey Monitor) TRENTON, N.J. – The U.S. government has sued Newark, Jersey City, Paterson and Hoboken – and their elected officials – for city policies prosecutors say interfere with the Trump administration's immigration detention and deportation goals. Prosecutors want a judge to declare the policies an unconstitutional violation of the Constitution's supremacy clause, which holds that federal law prevails over state law. They also want an injunction to block the cities from protecting their residents and visitors from immigration enforcement. 'The United States is currently facing a crisis of illegal immigration, and the Federal Government is set to put a stop to it,' the lawsuit states. 'While states and local governments are free to stand aside as the United States performs this important work, they cannot stand in the way. And where inaction crosses into obstruction, local governments break federal law. That is what is happening across New Jersey right now. It is past time it ends.' The complaint, filed Thursday, names as defendants Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop, Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh, Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla and the cities' council presidents (all four mayors are Democrats). Baraka and Fulop are among six Democrats running to become New Jersey's next governor, and Baraka just two days ago beat another federal case against him over a contested immigration jail that recently opened in Newark. Baraka blasted the latest prosecution as 'absurd.' 'We are not standing in the way of public safety. We are upholding the Constitution, providing oversight, and following the laws and guidelines of the State of New Jersey,' he said in a statement. 'Nothing in our policies prevents law enforcement from doing their jobs. What we refuse to do is turn our city into an arm of federal immigration enforcement, which the courts have already ruled is not our role.' Fulop said he would not be 'bullied' and vowed to fight the feds. 'Jersey City gets sued for being a sanctuary city — I guess MAGA ran out of conspiracy theories for the week,' he said. 'Here is the truth: Jersey City's policies protect families, reflect our values and have led to record low crime rates.' And Sayegh dismissed the complaint as 'a frivolous lawsuit and a flagrant affront to the rule of law.' 'We will not be intimidated, and we will fight this egregious attempt to score political points at Paterson's expense,' Sayegh said. Bhalla also said his city 'will not back down.' '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. These actions of the federal government are truly barbaric, and Hoboken will not aid this lawlessness,' he said. In the 24-page complaint, U.S. Justice Department prosecutors led by Yaakov M. Roth, acting assistant attorney general, accused the cities of denying federal immigration agents access to undocumented people in local jails, forbidding local police from delivering them to federal immigration agents, and barring 'otherwise willing local officers from providing mission-critical information to federal immigration authorities.' Prosecutors cite executive orders and police directives that the cities issued in 2017, 2018 and 2019 during President Trump's first term, but that remain in effect. Such policies prohibit 'even the most basic cooperation with federal officials' and undermine immigration enforcement work, prosecutors argue. 'These efforts to shield illegal aliens within the Garden State are unlawful,' the complaint states. The complaint also accuses city officials of discrimination, because they bar local police and municipal officials from cooperating only with federal immigration agents, not any other entity. Singling out one agency for unfavorable treatment constitutes discrimination, the lawsuit says. 'Such discriminatory targeting of the Federal Government is unlawful,' the complaint says. The complaint comes three weeks after federal authorities began detaining undocumented people at Delaney Hall, a 1,100-bed jail in Newark that has drawn protesters daily. Jail officials initially had barred city officials from inspecting the facility, which led to Baraka's arrest earlier this month when he visited the site seeking entry. Prosecutors on Monday dropped charges against Baraka but then charged Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-10) with assaulting officers by acting as a human shield to protect Baraka from arrest. She denies the charges, and Congressional Democrats from around the country have denounced that arrest. Immigration advocates decried the lawsuit filed Friday as the feds' attempt strong-arm local governments into carrying out federal immigration enforcement. Amy Torres, executive director of the New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice, said the cities' policies don't violate federal law but instead 'reflect a clear separation between local and federal responsibilities.' She urged the cities to resist caving to federal 'bullying.' 'Over the last few months, the Trump Administration's DOJ has made it clear that they want to make an example out of New Jersey — first by raiding our cities, then by expanding ICE jails in defiance of local law, and most recently by arresting elected officials and charging sitting members of Congress with felonies,' Torres said in a statement. 'It is clear that the DOJ remains hellbent on making a national example out of New Jersey. In return, NJAIJ calls upon the cities of Newark, Jersey City, Paterson, and Hoboken to be a national example of resistance, dissent, and champions for justice.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE This report was first published by the New Jersey Monitor, part of the States Newsroom nonprofit news network. It's supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. New Jersey Monitor maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Terrence T. McDonald for questions: info@
CTV News
23-05-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
Trump administration sues 4 New Jersey cities over ‘sanctuary' policies
Mayor Ras Baraka speaks to supporters and media after a court appearance in Newark, N.J., Thursday, May 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File) TRENTON, N.J. — The Trump administration sued four New Jersey cities over their so-called sanctuary city policies aimed at prohibiting police from cooperating with immigration officials, saying the local governments are standing in the way of federal enforcement. The Justice Department filed the suit Thursday against Newark, Jersey City, Paterson and Hoboken in New Jersey federal court. The lawsuit seeks a judgment against the cities and an injunction to halt them from enacting the so-called sanctuary city policies. 'While states and local governments are free to stand aside as the United States performs this important work, they cannot stand in the way,' the suit says. It's the latest case from Republican U.S. President Donald Trump's administration against sanctuary policies. The administration also sued Chicago, Denver, the state of Colorado, and Rochester, New York. There is no official definition for sanctuary policies or sanctuary cities. The terms generally describe limited local cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. ICE enforces U.S. immigration laws nationwide but sometimes seeks state and local help. Messages seeking comment were left Friday with the affected cities. Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh said his city would fight the suit, calling it an 'egregious attempt to score political points at Paterson's expense.' 'We will not be intimidated,' he said in a text message. Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla said in a statement the city prides itself on its inclusivity. 'The City of Hoboken will vigorously work to defend our rights, have our day in court, and defeat the Trump Administration's lawlessness. To be clear: we will not back down,' he said. The mayors of all four cities are Democrats. New Jersey's attorney general adopted a statewide Immigrant Trust Directive in 2018, which bars local police from cooperation with federal officials conducting immigration enforcement. The policies adopted by the four cities are similar. The 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals agreed with a lower court that New Jersey's statewide policy could stand, but it's unclear how that court's order might affect the government's case against the four cities. Article by Mike Catalini.
Los Angeles Times
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
Trump administration sues 4 New Jersey cities over ‘sanctuary' policies
TRENTON, N.J. — The Trump administration sued four New Jersey cities over their so-called sanctuary city policies aimed at prohibiting police from cooperating with immigration officials, saying the local governments are standing in the way of federal enforcement. The Justice Department filed the suit Thursday against Newark, Jersey City, Paterson and Hoboken in New Jersey federal court. The lawsuit seeks a judgment against the cities and an injunction to halt them from enacting the so-called sanctuary city policies. 'While states and local governments are free to stand aside as the United States performs this important work, they cannot stand in the way,' the suit says. It's the latest case from President Trump's administration against sanctuary policies. The administration also sued Chicago, Denver, the state of Colorado, and Rochester, N.Y. There is no official definition for sanctuary policies or sanctuary cities. The terms generally describe limited local cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. ICE enforces U.S. immigration laws nationwide but sometimes seeks state and local help. Messages seeking comment were left Friday with the affected cities. Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh said his city would fight the suit, calling it an 'egregious attempt to score political points at Paterson's expense.' 'We will not be intimidated,' he said in a text message. Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla said in a statement the city prides itself on its inclusivity. 'The City of Hoboken will vigorously work to defend our rights, have our day in court, and defeat the Trump Administration's lawlessness. To be clear: we will not back down,' he said. The mayors of all four cities are Democrats. New Jersey's attorney general adopted a statewide Immigrant Trust Directive in 2018, which bars local police from cooperation with federal officials conducting immigration enforcement. The policies adopted by the four cities are similar. The 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals agreed with a lower court that New Jersey's statewide policy could stand, but it's unclear how that court's order might affect the government's case against the four cities. Catalini writes for the Associated Press.
Associated Press
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Trump administration sues 4 New Jersey cities over 'sanctuary' policies
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — The Trump administration sued four New Jersey cities over their so-called sanctuary city policies aimed at prohibiting police from cooperating with immigration officials, saying the local governments are standing in the way of federal enforcement. The Justice Department filed the suit Thursday against Newark, Jersey City, Paterson and Hoboken in New Jersey federal court. The lawsuit seeks a judgment against the cities and an injunction to halt them from enacting the so-called sanctuary city policies. 'While states and local governments are free to stand aside as the United States performs this important work, they cannot stand in the way,' the suit says. It's the latest case from Republican President Donald Trump's administration against sanctuary policies. The administration also sued Chicago, Denver, the state of Colorado, and Rochester, New York. There is no official definition for sanctuary policies or sanctuary cities. The terms generally describe limited local cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. ICE enforces U.S. immigration laws nationwide but sometimes seeks state and local help. Messages seeking comment were left Friday with the affected cities. Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh said his city would fight the suit, calling it an 'egregious attempt to score political points at Paterson's expense.' 'We will not be intimidated,' he said in a text message. Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla said in a statement the city prides itself on its inclusivity. 'The City of Hoboken will vigorously work to defend our rights, have our day in court, and defeat the Trump Administration's lawlessness. To be clear: we will not back down,' he said. The mayors of all four cities are Democrats. New Jersey's attorney general adopted a statewide Immigrant Trust Directive in 2018, which bars local police from cooperation with federal officials conducting immigration enforcement. The policies adopted by the four cities are similar. The 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals agreed with a lower court that New Jersey's statewide policy could stand, but it's unclear how that court's order might affect the government's case against the four cities.
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Paterson mayor calls NJ city ‘capital of Palestine' in Ramadan kickoff remarks: ‘4th holiest city in the world'
A New Jersey mayor declared that his city is the 'capital of Palestine' and 'the fourth holiest city in the world' during the kickoff to Ramadan last month, footage shows. Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh made the remarks at a Feb. 28 Hilal Lighting Ceremony surrounded by other lawmakers and community leaders in the city with the highest Muslim population in the Garden State. 'I'm not the one who said it, but I heard people say that Paterson is probably the fourth most halal or holiest city in the world. Jerusalem, Mecca, Medina and Paterson, New Jersey,' the 50-year-old Democrat said. 'Paterson is the capital of Palestine in the United States of America,' he later added. 'Paterson, as I've stated before, is the fourth holiest city in the world: Jerusalem, Mecca, Medina and then Paterson, New Jersey.' Sayegh, who became Paterson's first Arab-American mayor when he was elected in 2018, rattled off ways the city has worked to celebrate Islamic traditions, including giving students off for religious holidays and presenting youngsters halal food options in schools. He also claimed that Paterson was on the shortlist of holiest cities in the world. Saudi Arabian cities Mecca and Medina are the sites of the Grand Mosque and Prophet's Mosque, respectively. With Jerusalem's Al Aqsa Mosque, the three are considered the three holiest sites in Islam. Kairouan, Tunisia is considered the fourth holiest city connected to Islam. Ramadan is a holy month in which Muslims fast from dawn until sunset daily. The holiday started on Feb. 28 and will end on March 29. Paterson has an estimated Muslim population of 30,000 out of the more than 150,000 residents that live in the city.
