The US Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against the state of Maryland, alleging that its sanctuary policies obstruct federal immigration enforcement and violate federal law.

The lawsuit, filed on Thursday in the US District Court for the District of Maryland, Northern Division, is part of the Trump administration’s broader legal campaign against Democratic-led states and municipalities with so-called sanctuary policies.

According to the Justice Department, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche directed the department’s Civil Division to identify and challenge state and local laws or practices that allegedly interfere with lawful federal immigration enforcement.

Federal officials argue that Maryland’s policies restrict cooperation with immigration authorities, making it more difficult for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers to locate and detain undocumented migrants targeted for removal.

The lawsuit marks the latest step in the administration’s efforts to challenge sanctuary jurisdictions, which it says undermine federal immigration enforcement priorities.

The sanctuary movement originated in the 1980s, when churches across the United States offered refuge to Central American migrants fleeing conflict and fearing deportation. Today, the Trump administration broadly applies the term to jurisdictions that limit cooperation with ICE.

ICE, an agency within the Department of Homeland Security, plays a central role in carrying out the administration’s immigration enforcement and deportation operations.

Civil rights organisations have criticised the administration’s crackdown, saying it threatens constitutional protections, including due process and free speech rights, while increasing fears of racial profiling and discrimination against immigrant communities.

Beyond targeting illegal immigration, the Trump administration has also tightened legal immigration pathways by introducing higher fees and stricter requirements for certain work visa applicants.

President Donald Trump has defended the measures, saying tougher immigration enforcement is necessary to strengthen national security, uphold immigration laws, and protect job opportunities for American workers.

Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown’s office declined to comment on the lawsuit.

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