The U.S. Department of Justice took legal action against Maryland on Thursday, with the Trump administration arguing that the state’s sanctuary-style policies are standing in the way of its ongoing immigration enforcement push.
The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland Northern Division. Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche had previously directed the DOJ’s civil division to identify state and local laws, policies, and practices that, in the department’s words, “facilitate violations of federal laws or impede lawful federal operations.”
Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown’s office declined to offer any comment on the lawsuit.
This legal action is part of a wider effort by the Republican administration to challenge laws passed by Democratic-led governments that restrict how much local and state agencies cooperate with federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement, known as ICE. The Trump administration has labeled these jurisdictions “sanctuary” areas and contends their policies are blocking the president’s mass deportation agenda.
ICE, which operates under the Department of Homeland Security, has been at the center of the administration’s immigration crackdown.
The term “sanctuary” has roots going back to the 1980s, when American churches began sheltering Central American migrants who had escaped civil conflict and were afraid of being deported from the United States.
Civil rights organizations have pushed back against the crackdown, arguing it violates due process and free speech rights and fosters an unsafe climate — particularly for ethnic minorities, who have voiced concerns about racial profiling.
While immigration enforcement has been a cornerstone of Trump’s agenda since his 2024 campaign, the administration has also moved to make legal immigration harder — including by adding costly new fees for applicants seeking certain work visas. Trump has maintained that these actions are intended to strengthen national security and preserve jobs for American citizens.
