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Emigration and immigration

Hoboken Rejects Trump Administration's Call to Rescind Sanctuary City Order

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla has announced that the city will not rescind its 2018 sanctuary city order, despite a demand from the Trump administration to do so. The city joins several others around the country in rejecting the call, with officials citing concerns over the impact on immigrant communities and the city's values.

Key Takeaways:

  • Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla stated that the city will not rescind its 2018 sanctuary city order, despite a demand from the Trump administration to do so.
  • The city joins several others around the country in rejecting the call, with officials citing concerns over the impact on immigrant communities and the city's values.
  • The Trump administration has threatened to take legal action against cities that refuse to cooperate with federal immigration authorities, and has published a list of jurisdictions that have passed sanctuary laws.
  • At least three cities in New Jersey (Hoboken, Jersey City, and Paterson) received a letter from US Attorney General Pam Bondi demanding that they end their sanctuary policies and comply with federal law.
  • Hoboken's "fair and welcoming city" designation restricts when city officials and police can cooperate with federal immigration agents.
  • The city may revise its policies if necessary, but only to ensure that Hoboken residents are not subjected to unlawful immigration enforcement.
  • Other cities around the country have also rejected the Trump administration's call to rescind sanctuary policies, with officials in Washington Governor Bob Ferguson's office and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu stating that they will not be bullied into compliance.

Statistics:

  • Since Trump took office in January, immigration arrests have doubled, and the number of people in detention has skyrocketed.
  • Hoboken's population is approximately 53,000 people (as of 2020 census data).
  • The city has a long history of supporting immigrant rights and has been designated as a "fair and welcoming city" since 2018.
  • The list of jurisdictions that have passed sanctuary laws and are being targeted by the Trump administration includes at least 46 cities and counties across the US.
  • The Trump administration has threatened to withhold federal funding and grants to cities that refuse to cooperate with federal immigration authorities.
  • The Immigrant Trust Directive, implemented by New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy in 2019, has been the subject of controversy and is currently under investigation by the Department of Justice.

Sources:

  • "City of Hoboken rejects U.S. Attorney General's calls to rescind immigrant protection policies" (hobokennj.gov/news)
  • "US Attorney General publishes list of sanctuary jurisdictions" (justice.gov/opa/pr)
  • "Feds sue four New Jersey democratic mayors for policies blocking immigration enforcement" (newjerseymonitor.com/2025/05/23)
  • "Washington on notice by AG Bondi for sanctuary policies" (katu.com/news/local)
  • "Boston to AG Bondi: We will never back down" (content.boston.gov/sites/default/files/file)
  • "N.J. joins another lawsuit against Trump administration, bringing tally to 33" (newjerseymonitor.com/2025/08/19)

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