A federal judge has dismissed without prejudice a lawsuit brought by the U.S. Department of Justice against the City of Rochester over its Sanctuary City policy, a designation the city first adopted nearly four decades ago.
U.S. District Judge Frank Geraci issued the ruling Thursday in the Western District of New York, finding the case moot after Rochester adopted an updated sanctuary ordinance earlier this year. The dismissal leaves open the possibility that the federal government could refile the case at a later date.
The lawsuit, filed in April, sought to block Rochester from enforcing its policy, which prohibits city employees—including police—from assisting federal immigration authorities in the course of their regular duties. The policy also ensures that local law enforcement does not check immigration status as part of routine traffic stops and other encounters.
The city reaffirmed its Sanctuary city status in 2017 and again in 2025, with the latest version adding protections for LGBTQ residents and disciplinary measures for employees who violate the policy.
Mayor Malik Evans welcomed the decision. “We are pleased with the dismissal of the current lawsuit,” Evans said in a statement. “The City of Rochester became a Sanctuary City in 1986, and remains committed to this resolution. The City intends to continue to fully comply with federal and state laws while vigorously preserving our local autonomy and rights under the Tenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.”
The ruling comes amid a broader wave of federal litigation against sanctuary jurisdictions nationwide. Since President Donald Trump’s return to office in January, the Justice Department has filed suits against cities including Los Angeles, New York, Denver, and several municipalities in New Jersey, arguing that sanctuary policies violate the Constitution’s Supremacy Clause and obstruct immigration enforcement.
Supporters of sanctuary policies contend they protect immigrant communities by fostering trust between residents and local government, while critics argue they undermine federal law. Rochester’s City Council unanimously approved its updated ordinance in August after weeks of public debate and advocacy from immigrant rights groups.
For now, Rochester’s sanctuary designation remains intact. But with the Justice Department signaling continued litigation against cities nationwide, the issue could likely to remain a flashpoint in the ongoing national debate over immigration policy.
In April, President Trump's Border Czar Tom Homan visited Rochester to support RPD officers reprimanded for assisting ICE officers in a raid on Whitney Street, responding to their call for help, and ultimately putting handcuffs on suspects for the federal officials. Police Chief David Smith and Mayor Evans put the officers on limited duty and sent them for training on the policy;