Latest news with #RaviBhalla
CBS News
4 days ago
- Politics
- CBS News
Hoboken, N.J., plans to sue FAA over non-essential helicopter activity after deadly Hudson River crash
Hoboken wants non-essential helicopters banned from flying over city, mayor says Hoboken wants non-essential helicopters banned from flying over city, mayor says Hoboken wants non-essential helicopters banned from flying over city, mayor says The mayor of Hoboken, New Jersey, said his city plans to file a lawsuit against the Federal Aviation Administration for failing to halt non-essential helicopter activity. The controversy isn't new, but it comes months after a sightseeing helicopter crashed into the Hudson River, killing three children and three adults. Hoboken mayor wants tourist helicopters banned from flying over city Mayor Ravi Bhalla said choppers have been flying dangerously low in recent years and that April's deadly crash should be a wake-up call. It's why the Democrat says his city plans on suing the FAA for failing to protect his residents. "We are asking them to have all non-essential helicopters banned from flying over the city of Hoboken," he said. CBS News New York's Christine Sloan noticed over three dozen helicopters fly over the city in the span of one hour. Bhalla said many of those flights are non-essential. "They are tourist helicopters, and they are ones that simply disrupt our peace and quiet in Hoboken," he said. The mayor did not say exactly when Hoboken will file the lawsuit. CBS News New York reached out to the FAA, but the agency said it does not comment on pending litigation. Residents mixed on low-flying helicopter noise Many Hoboken residents say the sound of helicopters overhead is constant. "I notice the noise when I'm in my apartment 'cause they fly kind of just like over the city as well, and I feel that rumble," resident Lily Helander said. "They definitely fly low," resident Melissa Marion said. "I think there should be more regulations than there are now." Some residents, however, said they are not concerned. "I certainly think there are other issues at hand to deal with before dealing with low-flying helicopters," resident Winston Allen said. An organization called "Stop the Chop" said there are some 80,000 non-essential flights a year over New York City, which has some of the busiest heliports in the nation, and a relatively new heliport in Kearny could be the reason some flights stay low. "Because of the location of the Kearny heliport and the location of Newark Airport, the helicopters have difficulty staying out of the way of the fixed wing aircraft taking off and landing in Newark," Stop the Chop President Andrew Rosenthal said. CBS News New York reached out to the Kearny heliport and one of the busier sight-seeing helicopter companies but were unable to get comment for our story.
Fox News
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Trump administration sues four New Jersey cities over sanctuary policies
The Trump administration is suing four New Jersey cities, accusing local officials of obstructing federal law and infringing on efforts to combat illegal immigration through their sanctuary city policies. The lawsuit by the Justice Department alleged the cities of Newark, Hoboken, Jersey City and Paterson unlawfully obstructed federal authorities trying to fight illegal immigration. Mayors Ras Baraka of Newark, Ravi Bhalla of Hoboken, Steven Fulop of Jersey City and Andre Sayegh of Paterson are named as defendants, along with the four city councils. "By intent and design, the Challenged Policies are a frontal assault on the federal immigration laws and the federal authorities that administer them," the complaint states. Baraka was recently arrested and charged with trespassing outside an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in his city. That case was dropped, but U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIver was later charged with assault during the protest at Delaney Hall. "The lawsuit against Newark is absurd," Barake said in a statement. "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 nothing in the city's 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," he added. Acting Assistant Attorney General Yaakov Roth wrote that local policies are designed to "thwart federal immigration enforcement". "[E]ven where local law enforcement wants to help the United States deal with the nation's immigration crisis, the Challenged Policies impede them from doing so," he wrote. "This not only puts the safety of officers at risk, but also endangers the broader communities they are sworn to protect." The lawsuit comes after federal charges were filed against Baraka, a gubernatorial candidate, for his role during a May 9 clash involving Democratic politicians at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center in Newark. "Recent events have proven that these New Jersey officials care more about political showmanship than the safety of their communities," said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. "As I have made clear, this Justice Department does not tolerate local officials in sanctuary cities obstructing immigration enforcement: there is more litigation to come." "We will continue to do what we have always done, protect the rights of all our residents, stand on constitutional ground, and reject fear-based politics that divide communities rather than strengthen them," Baraka said. "Hoboken is a community that prides itself on its vibrancy, its cultural diversity, and its inclusivity, and we will continue to stand together as a community for what is fair and just," Bhalla said in a separate statement. "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." "Jersey City gets sued for being a sanctuary city — I guess MAGA ran out of conspiracy theories for the week," Fulop wrote on X in response to the lawsuit. "Here is the truth: Jersey City's policies protect families, reflect our values and have led to record low crime rates. As governor, I won't be bullied. We'll fight this — and win." Fox News Digital has reached out to Sayegh's office. The Trump administration has targeted sanctuary jurisdictions as it continues to catch and deport criminal illegal immigrants. It has filed lawsuits against cities in New York, Colorado and Illinois over attempts to impede immigration enforcement.
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.
CBS News
23-05-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Justice Department sues 4 New Jersey cities over immigration policies
The Trump administration is suing four New Jersey cities for alleged sanctuary city violations. The Justice Department's civil lawsuit alleges the governments of Newark, Hoboken, Jersey City and Paterson unlawfully obstructed federal immigration agents, according to sources. New Jersey mayors named in DOJ lawsuit Mayors Ras Baraka, Ravi Bhalla, Steven Fulop and Andre Sayegh were also named as defendants in the DOJ's suit, along with the four city councils. Baraka, the mayor of Newark, was recently arrested and charged with trespassing outside an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in his city. His case was dropped, but U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIver was later federally charged with assault during the protest at Delaney Hall. She denied wrongdoing and called the charges "purely political." Bhalla, Hoboken's mayor, issued the statement, "My first official act in 2018 as Hoboken's new Mayor was to declare by Executive Order and a General Order of the Hoboken Police Department that Hoboken is a 'Fair and Welcoming City' ... this means that 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 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," his statement continued. CBS News New York has reached out to DOJ and all of the mayors' offices for comment.
CBS News
23-05-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Justice Department sues 4 New Jersey cities over sanctuary policies
The Trump administration is suing four New Jersey cities for alleged sanctuary city violations. The Justice Department's civil lawsuit alleges the governments of Newark, Hoboken, Jersey City and Paterson unlawfully obstructed federal immigration agents, according to sources. Mayors Ras Baraka, Ravi Bhalla, Steven Fulop and Andre Sayegh were also named as defendants in the DOJ's suit, along with the four city councils. Baraka, the mayor of Newark, was recently arrested and charged with trespassing outside an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in his city. His case was dropped, but U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIver was later federally charged with assault during the protest at Delaney Hall. She denied wrongdoing and called the charges "purely political." Bhalla, Hoboken's mayor, issued the statement, "My first official act in 2018 as Hoboken's new Mayor was to declare by Executive Order and a General Order of the Hoboken Police Department that Hoboken is a 'Fair and Welcoming City' ... this means that 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 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," his statement continued. CBS News New York has reached out to all of the mayors' offices for comment.
