A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) that challenged New York’s Protect Our Courts Act. The law, enacted in 2020, was designed to prevent civil immigration arrests in and around state courthouses.
Attorney General Letitia James issued a statement following the decision: “Everyone deserves to seek justice without fear. This ruling ensures that anyone can use New York’s state courts without being targeted by federal authorities.
“My office will continue fighting to defend the dignity and rights of immigrant communities throughout New York.”
The Protect Our Courts Act was passed after Attorney General James secured a ruling in 2020 that stopped civil immigration arrests at courthouses under the Trump administration. In June 2025, the DOJ filed a lawsuit seeking to overturn this law. However, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York found that federal immigration law does not override New York’s ability to protect access to its courts, leading to dismissal of the case.
