City of Chelsea et al v. Trump, President of the United States et al

Filing 1

COMPLAINT against All Defendants Filing fee: $ 400, receipt number 0101-6487845 (Fee Status: Filing Fee paid), filed by City of Chelsea, City of Lawrence. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Civil Category Sheet)(Friedman-Boyce, Inez)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF MASSACHUSETTS
)
CITY OF CHELSEA, CITY OF LAWRENCE, )
)
)
Plaintiffs,
)
)
v.
)
DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United )
)
States, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
JOHN F. KELLY, Secretary of United States )
Department of Homeland Security, DANA J. )
)
BOENTE, Acting Attorney General of the
)
United States, DOES 1-100,
)
Defendants.
)
)

Civil Action No. 17-10214

COMPLAINT FOR DECLARATORY JUDGMENT AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF
INTRODUCTION
1.

On January 25, 2017, Defendant President Donald J. Trump signed Executive Order

No. 13,768 entitled “Enhancing Public Safety in the Interior of the United States.” Executive
Order No. 13,768, 82 Fed. Reg. 8799 (Jan. 25, 2017) (“Executive Order”). The Executive Order
is a major affront to basic principles of federalism and the separation of powers. The Executive
Order seeks, without congressional authorization, to commandeer local officials to enforce the
federal government’s immigration policies, and threatens municipalities with crippling losses of
funding, apparently including funding for programs with no connection to law enforcement, if
the municipalities do not come to heel. Particularly for smaller and more impoverished cities
and towns, the impact of this Executive Order is both immediate and chilling.
2.

The Executive Order announces that it is the federal executive branch’s policy to

“[e]nsure that jurisdictions that fail to comply with applicable Federal law do not receive Federal

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funds, except as mandated by law.” Executive Order Sec. 2(c). Section 9(a) of the Executive
Order directs the U.S. Attorney General and the Secretary of the Department of Homeland
Security (“DHS”) to “ensure” that certain “sanctuary jurisdictions,” which are defined as
“jurisdictions that willfully refuse to comply with 8 U.S.C. [§] 1373,” are “not eligible to receive
Federal grants,” and further orders “enforcement action” against any entity that “violates 8
U.S.C. [§] 1373” or “has in effect a statute, policy, or practice that prevents or hinders the
enforcement of Federal law.” Executive Order Sec. 9(a).
3.

The City of Chelsea (“Chelsea”) and the City of Lawrence (“Lawrence”)

(collectively, “Plaintiff Cities” or “Cities”) seek declaratory and injunctive relief against the
United States of America and the above-named federal officers and Defendants for violating the
Tenth and Fifth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution and principles of federalism and
separation of powers. Plaintiff Cities further seek a declaration, under the Declaratory Judgment
Act, 28 U.S.C. §§ 2201 and 2202 et seq., that they comply with 8 U.S.C. § 1373.
4.

Plaintiff Cities face a significant risk of sanctions from Defendants if Defendants

implement the Executive Order, which seeks to exact severe measures against so-called
“sanctuary jurisdictions.”
5.

Chelsea self-identifies as a “sanctuary city” and Lawrence, a “Trust Act City,” is

widely labeled as such. The label “sanctuary city” is distinct from the term “sanctuary
jurisdiction” under the Executive Order. Plaintiff Cities use the term “sanctuary city” or “Trust
Act City” to refer to their policies of deprioritizing local law enforcement participation in federal
civil immigration investigations and detentions, in an effort to promote public safety and
confidence in local law enforcement. Plaintiff Cities are not “sanctuary jurisdictions” as that
term is used in the Executive Order.

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6.

Past statements and practices of the President and Executive officers, however,

suggest that Plaintiff Cities will be treated as “sanctuary jurisdictions” under the Executive
Order.
7.

Furthermore, the Executive Order ambiguously directs the Attorney General to

“take appropriate enforcement action against any entity . . . which has in effect a statute, policy,
or practice that prevents or hinders the enforcement of Federal law.” Executive Order Sec. 9(a).
This presents an immediate threat to Plaintiff Cities, which are now presented with a Hobson’s
choice: either repeal policies that they have determined to be necessary to the safety and wellbeing of local residents, or submit to the mercy of the Attorney General’s determination as to
whether they have in effect policies or practices that “hinder” the enforcement of federal law.
8.

Plaintiff Cities rely on federal funding to fill critical budgetary needs and,

particularly as relatively small jurisdictions, cannot afford uncertainty over whether they will
lose federal funds or be subjected to undefined “appropriate enforcement action” by the Attorney
General if they are found to have policies or practices that “hinder” federal law enforcement.
9.

If Plaintiff Cities are found to be “sanctuary jurisdictions,” the Executive Order

instructs the Attorney General and the Secretary of DHS to “ensure” that Plaintiff Cities are “not
eligible to receive Federal grants.” Executive Order Sec. 9(a). The threat to rescind federal
grants in order to coerce Plaintiff Cities to enforce federal immigration law constitutes
unconstitutional coercion for three reasons.
a.

First, Plaintiff Cities did not have any notice, much less the unambiguous

notice required by law, that accepting federal grants would require them to
actively enforce federal immigration orders. In enacting § 1373, Congress
included no reference to any consequences to federal funding. In fact, § 1373

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includes no language regarding federal grants or funding. The Executive Order
attempts to retroactively impose conditions on the receipt of almost all federal
funding, making it impossible for affected cities to make informed decisions
about whether to participate in federal grant programs.
b.

Second, the Executive Order conditions the receipt of federal grants by

municipalities on their cooperation with Executive interpretations of immigration
enforcement, without any limitation as to which federal funds or grants are at
stake. The only stated exception for grants which may be denied to municipalities
deemed “sanctuary jurisdictions” is for those grants “deemed necessary for law
enforcement purposes by the Attorney General or the Secretary.” Executive
Order Sec. 9(a). Therefore, potentially all federal grants or pass-through grants to
Plaintiff Cities are threatened. The amount of federal grants at stake amount to a
“gun to the head” of the Cities.
c.

Third, there is no nexus between the immigration issues addressed by the

Executive Order and the funds threatened to be withheld from “sanctuary
jurisdictions.” The Executive Order conditions receipt of federal grants on the
execution and enforcement of immigration laws, a condition that is unrelated to
the federal interests at stake in most federal grants, and the Executive Order in no
way attempts to connect immigration to the purpose for which the threatened
funds are expended.
10.

Applying the Executive Order against Plaintiff Cities would also violate the Tenth

Amendment’s anti-commandeering principle. If § 1373 prohibits Plaintiff Cities’ ordinances and

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policies, then it should be struck down as an unconstitutional restriction on lawful exercises of
state sovereignty, in violation of the Tenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
11.

Plaintiff Cities derive their legislative and executive authority from the

Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Under the Home Rule Amendment, Article 89 of the
Massachusetts Constitution, the people of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts exercise the
right of self-government as residents of their cities and towns, as they do as residents of
Massachusetts. As local governments elected through the “traditional liberties of the people with
respect to the conduct of their local government,” Mass. Const. amend. art. LXXXIX, Plaintiff
Cities exercise the authority to regulate local law enforcement agencies, including by adopting
law enforcement priorities and practices that aim to promote public safety and welfare in the
Cities. If § 1373 is interpreted to unlawfully restrict this basic exercise of state sovereignty, then
it is unconstitutional.
12.

Section 1373 is further unconstitutional on its face, as it purports to restrict how

state and local governments can regulate their officers and employees.
13.

The Executive Order itself also violates the Tenth Amendment and fundamental

principles of federalism, as it purports to grant the Attorney General blanket authority to “take
appropriate enforcement action” to force state and local governments to conform local policies
and practices to the dictates of the federal government, thus subjugating the policymaking
authority of state and local government, and the voices of their electorates, to the regulation of
the federal government. Executive Order Sec. 9(a).
14.

The Executive Order violates the separation of powers by creating a penalty for

§ 1373 that Congress did not authorize, without regard to statutory rules on grant programs put in
place by Congress. The Executive Order effectively legislates a sanction for violations of § 1373

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by using the statute as a basis to broadly deny federal grants to municipalities that have made a
policy decision to focus law enforcement resources on local problems and limit their
entanglement with federal immigration enforcement. The President’s unilateral imposition of
this new sanction and condition on spending is not supported by any act of Congress, including
the Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. § 1101 et seq., or by the Constitution.
15.

The Executive Order is unconstitutionally vague because cities cannot reasonably

determine whether they fit into its definition of “sanctuary jurisdictions,” whether they are
subject to its penalties, or what penalties those might be. As worded, the Executive Order
threatens to rescind federal grants to Plaintiff Cities in such broad terms that it would cripple the
Cities—and other similarly situated cities—if they are found subject to the penalties imposed on
“sanctuary jurisdictions.” The Executive Order also gives discretion to the Secretary of DHS to
“designate” a “sanctuary jurisdiction,” but no standards are given for how that designation may
be determined.
16.

Plaintiff Cities depend on federal grants both to provide necessary daily functions,

like the operation of public schools, and to provide critical emergency services, such as fire
departments. Therefore, an immediate resolution on the parties’ respective legal rights is
necessary. Plaintiff Cities’ vulnerability and uncertainty under the Executive Order paralyzes
their ability to budget daily governance needs and implement their law enforcement policies and
priorities.
17.

Plaintiff Cities accordingly seek a declaration that Executive Order Section 9(a) is

unlawful, and an injunction barring Defendants from implementing it.

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JURISDICTION AND VENUE
18.

The Court has jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331 and 1346. This Court has

further remedial authority under the Declaratory Judgment Act, 28 U.S.C. §§ 2201 and 2202 et
seq. The United States has waived its sovereign immunity pursuant to 5 U.S.C. § 702.
19.

Venue properly lies within the District of Massachusetts because Plaintiffs, the City

of Chelsea and the City of Lawrence, reside in this judicial district and a substantial part of the
events or omissions giving rise to this action occurred in this District. 28 U.S.C. § 1391(e).
PARTIES
20.

Plaintiff City of Chelsea is a municipal corporation organized and existing under

and by virtue of the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and is a charter city.
21.

Plaintiff City of Lawrence is a municipal corporation organized and existing under

and by virtue of the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and is a charter city.
22.

Defendant Donald J. Trump is the President of the United States. He is sued in his

official capacity.
23.

Defendant United States of America is sued under 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331 and 1346.

24.

Defendant John F. Kelly is the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland

Security. The DHS is a cabinet department of the U.S. federal government with the primary
mission of protecting the homeland security of the United States. Secretary Kelly is responsible
for executing relevant provisions of the Executive Order. Secretary Kelly is sued in his official
capacity.
25.

Defendant Dana J. Boente is the Acting Attorney General of the United States. The

Attorney General is a cabinet position of the U.S. federal government overseeing the U.S.
Department of Justice. Acting Attorney General Boente is responsible for executing relevant

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provisions of the Executive Order. Acting Attorney General Boente is sued in his official
capacity.
26.

Doe 1 through Doe 100 are sued under fictitious names. Plaintiffs do not now

know the true names or capacities of said Defendants, who may or will be responsible for the
violations alleged, but pray that the same may be alleged in this Complaint when ascertained.
FACTUAL ALLEGATIONS
I.

THE PLAINTIFFS
A. The City of Chelsea
27.

The City of Chelsea, Massachusetts is located directly across the Mystic River from

Boston. It was first settled in 1624, established itself as a town in 1739 and was incorporated as
a city in 1857. With a land area of just 1.8 square miles, it is the smallest city in Massachusetts
and, as of 2015, had an estimated population of approximately 39,398.
28.

Chelsea is a diverse, working-class community that has twice been given the All-

America City Award by the National Civic League, in recognition of the ability of its residents to
work together to identify and tackle community-wide challenges. Approximately 62.1% of the
city’s residents identify as Hispanic or Latino. As of 2010, 44% of the city’s residents were born
outside of the United States, the highest percentage in Massachusetts.
29.

The per capita income in Chelsea is $21,722. Approximately 20.9% of Chelsea’s

residents live below the poverty line.
30.

Chelsea has an annual budget of $170 million, of which approximately $13.9

million derives from federal funding. As of 2015, Chelsea employed approximately 1,287
people.

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B. The City of Lawrence
31.

The City of Lawrence, Massachusetts was built in the 1840s as the nation’s first

planned industrial center, and 35% of its economy is still manufacturing-based. Located 25
miles north of Boston, it had an estimated population of approximately 80,231, as of 2015.
32.

Lawrence has long been a multi-ethnic and multicultural gateway city. The

successive waves of immigrants coming to Lawrence to work in the mills began with the Irish,
followed by other European immigrants and later immigrants from Puerto Rico, the Dominican
Republic, Vietnam, and Cambodia. Today, the U.S. Census Bureau estimates that 37.4% of
Lawrence’s residents were born outside the United States. As of 2010, 73.8% of the city’s
residents identified as Hispanic or Latino.
33.

The per capita income in Lawrence is $17,167. Approximately 28.4% of

Lawrence’s residents live below the poverty line.
34.

Lawrence has an annual budget of $245 million, of which approximately $37.8

million derives from federal funding. Lawrence employs approximately 2,967 people.
II.

DEFENDANTS’ ACTIONS
A. Defendants’ Statements Regarding Sanctuary Cities
35.

Targeting sanctuary cities is one of President Trump’s policy priorities. In a recent

interview with Bill O’Reilly, President Trump said he is “very much opposed to sanctuary
cities,” that sanctuary cities “breed crime,” and that defunding sanctuary cities is “a weapon” he
might use. Dan Brekke, Trump: California ‘Out of Control’ and Defunding Could Be in Store
(Feb. 6, 2017), KQED News, https://ww2.kqed.org/news/2017/02/06/trump-california-out-ofcontrol-and-defunding-could-be-in-store/.
36.

In a statement by White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer on January 25, 2017,

announcing the issuance of the Executive Order, Spicer stated: “We are going to strip federal
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grant money from the sanctuary states and cities that harbor illegal immigrants. The American
people are no longer going to have to be forced to subsidize this disregard for our laws.” White
House, 1/25/17: White House Press Briefing, YouTube (Jan. 25, 2017), available at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OaPriMVvtZA.
37.

These recent statements about sanctuary cities by the Trump administration are

consistent with the stated policy priorities of the Trump campaign. During the campaign, thencandidate Trump and his associates used similarly inflammatory and divisive rhetoric to
manufacture fear about sanctuary cities and their residents. These statements were made without
regard to the substance of the cities’ policies and priorities. The Executive Order is an attempt to
zealously pursue the promises of the Trump campaign.
38.

In statements to The Daily Caller on July 7, 2015, Senator Jeff Sessions—now the

Attorney General nominee –and Congressman Darrell Issa criticized sanctuary cities for failing
to honor detainers issued by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”). An ICE
detainer is a request by a federal immigration enforcement agency to obtain information about
where an individual in the custody of state or local law enforcement is incarcerated, and may
request state or local law enforcement either to hold the person for the agency or to notify the
agency when release of the person is imminent. Attorney General nominee Senator Jeff Sessions
stated, “This disregarding of detainers and releasing persons that ICE has put a hold on—it goes
against all traditions of law enforcement. Laws and courtesies within departments—if you have
somebody charged with a crime in one city, you hold them until you complete your business
with them . . . . So what was happening was, ICE authorities were filing detainers and sanctuary
cities were saying, ‘We’re not gonna honor them. They finished paying for the crime they
committed in our city—we’ve released them.’” Kerry Picket, Sen. Sessions: City Officials

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Harboring Illegal Immigrant Felons Could Be Charged With Crime, The Daily Caller (July 7,
2015), http://dailycaller.com/2015/07/07/sen-sessions-city-officials-harboring-illegal-immigrantfelons-could-be-charged-with-crime/.
39.

In an interview with Breitbart News in May 2016, then-presidential candidate

Trump stated, “Sanctuary cities are a disaster . . . . They’re a safe-haven for criminals and
people that should not have a safe-haven in many cases. It’s just unacceptable. We’ll be looking
at sanctuary cities very hard.” Matthew Boyle, Exclusive —Donald J. Trump to San Francisco:
Sanctuary Cities ‘Unacceptable,’ A ‘Disaster’ Creating ‘Safe-Haven for Criminals’, Breitbart
News (May 16, 2016), available at http://www.breitbart.com/2016-presidentialrace/2016/05/16/exclusive-donald-jtrump-to-san-francisco-sanctuary-cities-unacceptable-adisaster-creating-safehaven-for-criminals/.
40.

Another Breitbart News article published on November 21, 2016 regarding

sanctuary cities quoted Texas Congressman John Culberson as stating: “The law requires
cooperation with immigration officials 100 percent of the time.” Bob Price, Sanctuary Cities
Risk Losing DOJ Funds In 2017, Texas Congressman Says, Breitbart News (Nov. 21, 2016),
http://www.breitbart.com/texas/2016/11/21/sanctuary-cities-risk-losing-doj-funds-2017-texascongressman-says/.
B. The Executive Order
41.

The Executive Order defines “sanctuary jurisdictions” as jurisdictions that

“willfully violate Federal law in an attempt to shield aliens from removal from the United
States.” Executive Order Sec. 1.
42.

The Executive Order also defines “sanctuary jurisdictions” as jurisdictions that

“willfully refuse to comply with 8 U.S.C. [§] 1373.” Id. Sec. 9(a).

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43.

The Executive Order also gives the Secretary of DHS the “authority to designate, in

his discretion and to the extent consistent with law, a jurisdiction as a sanctuary jurisdiction.” Id.
44.

The Executive Order also defines “sanctuary jurisdiction” as “any entity that

violates 8 U.S.C. [§] 1373, or which has in effect a statute, policy, or practice that prevents or
hinders the enforcement of Federal law.” Id.
45.

The Executive Order demands that “sanctuary jurisdictions” that fail to comply with

“applicable Federal law” do not receive Federal funds, “except as mandated by law.” Id.
Sec. 2(c).
46.

The Executive Order also gives the Attorney General and the Secretary of DHS the

discretion to ensure that “sanctuary jurisdictions” “are not eligible to receive Federal grants,
except as deemed necessary for law enforcement purposes by the Attorney General or the
Secretary.” Id. Sec. 9(a).
47.

The Executive Order further directs that the Attorney General “shall take

appropriate enforcement action against any entity that violates 8 U.S.C. [§] 1373, or which has in
effect a statute, policy, or practice that prevents or hinders the enforcement of Federal law.” Id.
Sec. 9(a).
III.

PLAINTIFFS ARE NOT “SANCTUARY JURISDICTIONS” AS SET FORTH IN
THE EXECUTIVE ORDER
48.

Plaintiff Cities, as empowered by the Massachusetts Constitution, have the right of

self-government regarding local matters. Mass. Const. amend. art. LXXXIX. To that end, they
have enacted ordinances to further local law enforcement priorities. Plaintiff Cities, in order to
protect all of their residents, have approved ordinances that recognize it is not in their interest or
in the interests of their residents to become entangled in federal immigration enforcement.

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49.

These ordinances, and subsequent policies, have been enacted to promote effective

law enforcement in the Cities, as studies have shown that victims and witnesses of crimes are
much less likely to come forward if they fear deportation. See, e.g., Bill O. Hing, Immigration
Sanctuary Policies: Constitutional and Representative of Good Policing and Good Public
Policy, 2 U.C. Irvine L. Rev. 247, 249-50, 303-08 (2012). Encouraging public confidence in
local law enforcement promotes the safety of all residents in Plaintiff Cities, and dispels any
paralyzing sense of false immunity that undocumented immigrants may impute to residents who
enjoy the protections of U.S. citizenship.
50.

Crime is statistically significantly lower in sanctuary counties compared to non-

sanctuary counties. Tom K. Wong, The Effects of Sanctuary Policies on Crime and the
Economy, Center for American Progress (Jan. 26, 2017),
https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/immigration/reports/2017/01/26/297366/the-effects-ofsanctuary-policies-on-crime-and-the-economy/.
A. Chelsea
51.

Chelsea declared itself a sanctuary city in a June 4, 2007 Resolution, in order to

further its efforts to “promote a community as a safe haven for refugees and immigrants who are
currently residing in that community from other countries.” Resolution of the City of Chelsea,
Massachusetts, Chelsea City Council (June 4, 2007), available at http://www.bostonmayday.org/
chelsea_resolution.html (“June 4, 2007 Resolution”).
52.

Chelsea’s Police Chief and its City Manager routinely speak at public gatherings

regarding Chelsea’s commitment to the safety of all of its residents, regardless of documentation
status. See, e.g., Al-Huda Society, Chelsea City Manager Supports Local Muslim Community,
YOUTUBE (Nov. 18, 2016), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BALyWNTgo_Q; City of

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Chelsea Multi-Media, Tom Ambrosino MLK Day Speech, YOUTUBE (Jan. 18, 2017),
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZ7Qt0zXzPY.
53.

The Chelsea Police Department promulgated “The Specific Role and Impact on the

CPD in the Enforcement of Federal Immigration Law By the Department of Homeland Security
(DHS-ICE) with the 2015 Priority Enforcement Program effective January 5, 2015.” General
Order 2015-01, Chelsea Police Department (Jan. 5, 2015), available at
http://chelseapolice.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2016/01/1.33-Role-and-Impact-of-FederalPEP-Program-on-CPD-1.pdf (“Chelsea Police Policy”) The Chelsea Police Policy states that
“[t]he City and the Chelsea Police Department are committed to promoting safety and providing
proactive community policing services to all who are located in our community.” Chelsea Police
Policy at 1.
54.

To further local law enforcement objectives, the Chelsea Police Department

encourages all members of the community, regardless of documentation status, to seek assistance
from the Chelsea Police Department. The Chelsea Police Policy also recognizes that “[t]his type
of mutual trust and spirit of cooperation is absolutely crucial in preventing and solving crime
incidents, as well as maintaining public order, safety and security in the entire community.” Id.
at 1-2.
55.

Chelsea’s Police Policy provides a detailed outline of how Chelsea complies with

the DHS Priority Enforcement Program (“PEP”). Chelsea Police Policy at 2-5. This includes a
commitment to community education regarding the contours of Chelsea’s compliance with PEP
and how such compliance does not inhibit local law enforcement goals. Id. at 5.
56.

The Chelsea Police Policy states that the Chelsea Police Department “shall not

undertake immigration-related investigations and shall not routinely inquire into the specific

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immigration status of any person(s) encountered during normal police operations.” Id. at 5. This
policy does not prohibit the Chelsea Police Department from cooperating and assisting with
federal immigration officials during criminal investigations or when there is a serious threat to
public safety or national security. Id. at 6.
57.

Procedurally, under the Chelsea Police Policy officers “shall not question any

person about his or her specific citizenship or immigration status unless that person is reasonably
believed to be involved in” certain types of enumerated conduct including felonious activity,
terrorism, and human trafficking. Id. at 6-7 (emphasis in original). Furthermore, the Chelsea
Police Department shall not participate in ICE tactical operations to enforce purely civil
immigration violations. Id. at 8.
58.

The Chelsea Police Department fingerprints everyone whom they arrest. Those

fingerprints are electronically submitted to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which shares that
information with DHS. Additionally, Chelsea has complied with every ICE Detainer Request it
has received.
59.

Chelsea is not a “sanctuary jurisdiction” within the meaning of the Executive Order

because Chelsea is not in willful violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1373. As stated in the June 4, 2007
Resolution and the Chelsea Police Policy, the purpose of Chelsea’s actions are to promote public
safety, not to willfully violate federal immigration law. Indeed, the Chelsea Police Policy
explicitly outlines Chelsea’s commitment to cooperation with PEP and criminal immigration
efforts, in accordance with § 1373.
B. Lawrence
60.

Lawrence is a Trust Act Community, and is regularly labeled as a “sanctuary city”

by various media outlets. See, e.g., Center for Immigration Studies, Map: Sanctuary Cities,
Counties, and States (January 2016), http://cis.org/Sanctuary-Cities-Map; Maria Sacchetti,
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Sanctuary cities say Trump’s plan will hurt residents most in need, Boston Globe (Nov. 30,
2016), available at https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2016/11/30/sanctuary-cities-say-trumpplan-will-hurt-neediest-residents/NuZ8WoDCaEyj1bKsnsr9OL/story.html; Caroline May,
Massachusetts city moves to enact sanctuary policies, Breitbart (Aug.13, 2015),
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2015/08/13/massachusetts-city-moves-to-enactsanctuary-policies/.
61.

On August 11, 2015, the Lawrence City Council adopted the Lawrence Trust

Ordinance, “to increase public confidence in Lawrence Law Enforcement by providing
guidelines associated with federal immigration enforcement, arrests, and detentions.” Lawrence
Trust Ordinance, § 9.20.010 et seq. The Lawrence Trust Ordinance seeks to promote public
confidence in city law enforcement agencies by assuring all residents that their citizenship or
immigration status will “have no bearing on an individual’s treatment” by city law enforcement
personnel. Lawrence Trust Ordinance, § 9.20.020.
62.

During the August 11, 2015 City Council meeting, where the City Council

approved the Lawrence Trust Ordinance, many spoke about how undocumented immigrant
victims of crime, including those in domestic violence situations, were afraid to seek help out of
fear the police would investigate their status. Keith Eddings, ‘Sanctuary City’ policy OK’d,
Eagle Tribune (Aug. 12, 2015), available at http://www.eagletribune.com/news/
new_hampshire/sanctuary-city-policy-ok-d/article_f59e88dd-7efe-59ab-be2593161f22773e.html (“Eagle Tribune Article”).
63.

In order to achieve its local law enforcement goals, the Lawrence Trust Ordinance

generally declares the enforcement of federal immigration law as beyond the purview of the

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City, and prohibits the City’s law enforcement personnel from contacting, detaining, or arresting
a person based on immigration status. Lawrence Trust Ordinance, § 9.20.020.
64.

Specifically, § 9.20.040(a) prohibits City law enforcement personnel from

arresting, detaining, or extending the detention of an individual solely on the basis of requests or
civil custody warrants issued by ICE, the enforcement arm of DHS, or other federal immigration
administrative officers.
65.

Section 9.20.040(b) also prohibits Lawrence law enforcement personnel from

responding to “any ICE notification request seeking information about an individual’s
incarceration status,” or other personal information about an individual. The notification request,
as used in this section, is not a Request for Notification (I-247N), which is defined in § 9.20.030
as an “Immigration Hold.”
66.

Section 9.20.040(c) also prohibits City law enforcement personnel from allowing

ICE agents “access to or use of facilities, records/databases, booking lists, or individuals in
custody either in person or via telephone or videoconference.”
67.

Importantly, Section 9.20.040 allows Lawrence officers and employees to comply

with ICE requests in cases where ICE “demonstrates a criminal warrant signed by a judge and
based on probable cause.” The Lawrence Trust Ordinance contemplates that there may be cases
when Lawrence law enforcement acquiesces to an ICE request, in which case it provides that any
individual subject to ICE intervention “shall be provided with a copy of the ICE request and any
other documentation pertaining to their case that is presented to the law enforcement agency.”
Lawrence Trust Ordinance, § 9.20.040(d).
68.

Lawrence is not a “sanctuary jurisdiction,” as defined in the Executive Order,

because it is not in willful violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1373. As stated in the Lawrence Trust

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Ordinance, the purpose of Lawrence’s ordinance is to promote public safety, not to willfully
violate federal immigration law. In fact, the Lawrence Trust Ordinance explicitly outlines
procedures for compliance with federal immigration efforts, in accordance with 8 U.S.C. § 1373.
IV.

DEFENDANTS MIGHT TREAT PLAINTIFFS AS “SANCTUARY
JURISDICTIONS”
69.

There is an actual controversy between the parties because there are significant

reasons to believe that Defendants will interpret the ordinances, policies, and practices of
Plaintiff Cities to be in willful violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1373, and therefore declare Plaintiff Cities
“sanctuary jurisdictions,” as defined in the Executive Order. President Trump and the White
House have spoken openly about targeting sanctuary cities, and the Executive Order is phrased
in a way that creates tremendous uncertainty and therefore chills the policy priorities and
activities of sanctuary cities. If Defendants designate Plaintiff Cities as “sanctuary jurisdictions”
under the Executive Order, Plaintiff Cities could lose significant federal funding, which they rely
upon to meet critical public safety needs, as well as necessary governmental functions.
70.

Executive Branch officers have previously adopted a broad construction of 8 U.S.C.

§ 1373. The Executive Order appears to build on that construction.
71.

On May 31, 2016, the Office of the Inspector General (“OIG”) issued a

memorandum reporting on its investigation into jurisdictions receiving funds from the Office of
Justice Programs and the Office of Violence Against Women. Memorandum from M. Horowitz,
Inspector General, to K. Mason, Assistant Atty. Gen., (May 31, 2016), available at
https://oig.justice.gov/reports/2016/1607.pdf (the “OIG Memorandum” or “OIG Memo”).
72.

The OIG Memorandum asserts that even when local laws and policies do not

expressly prohibit entities or officials from disclosing information to ICE, they may nonetheless

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result in de facto “restrictions” on providing such information, which would violate § 1373. OIG
Memo at 4-7.
73.

The OIG Memorandum notes that certain jurisdictions “go beyond regulating

responses to ICE detainers and also address, in some way, the sharing of information with
federal immigration authorities,” and states that such ordinances are “inconsistent with the plain
language of § 1373 prohibiting a local government from restricting a local official from sending
immigration status information to ICE.” OIG Memo at 5.
74.

The OIG Memorandum also suggests that even when local laws and policies on

their face apply only to ICE detainer requests, they “may have a broader practical impact on the
level of cooperation afforded to ICE . . . and may, therefore, be inconsistent with at least the
intent of Section 1373.” Id. at 7. The OIG Memorandum goes on to suggest: “A reasonable
reading of Section 1373, based on its ‘in any way restrict’ language, would be that it applies not
only to the situation where a local law or policy specifically prohibits or restricts an employee
from providing citizenship or immigration status information to ICE, but also where the actions
of local officials result in prohibitions or restrictions on employees providing such information to
ICE.” Id. at n.9.
75.

Pursuant to the OIG Memorandum and other statements made by Defendants, there

is a significant likelihood that Defendants will declare that Plaintiff Cities are “sanctuary
jurisdictions,” under the Executive Order, thus subjecting Plaintiff Cities to a loss of funding.
This uncertainty itself chills potential activities by sanctuary cities.
76.

Even if Defendants do not declare Plaintiff Cities to be “sanctuary jurisdictions” for

the purposes of the Executive Order, the Defendants may deem Plaintiff Cities to be “entit[ies]”
that “ha[ve] in effect a statute, policy, or practice that prevents or hinders the enforcement of

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Federal law.” Executive Order Sec. 9(a). If Defendants make such a determination, the
Executive Order provides that “the Attorney General shall take appropriate enforcement action
against” them. Id.
V.

PLAINTIFF CITIES COMPLY WITH § 1373
77.

The text of 8 U.S.C. § 1373(a) states that “[n]otwithstanding any other provision of

Federal, State, or local law, a Federal, State, or local government entity or official may not
prohibit, or in any way restrict, any government entity or official from sending to, or receiving
from, the Immigration and Naturalization Service information regarding the citizenship or
immigration status, lawful or unlawful, of any individual.”
78.

The text of 8 U.S.C. § 1373(b) states that “[n]otwithstanding any other provision of

Federal, State, or local law, no person or agency may prohibit, or in any way restrict, a Federal,
State, or local government entity from doing any of the following with respect to information
regarding the immigration status, lawful or unlawful, of any individual: (1) Sending such
information to, or requesting or receiving such information from, the Immigration and
Naturalization Service. (2) Maintaining such information. (3) Exchanging such information
with any other Federal, State, or local government entity.”
79.

The text of 8 U.S.C. § 1373(c) places no additional obligations or penalties on state

or local governments.
80.

Plaintiff Cities comply with the requirements of 8 U.S.C. § 1373.

A. Chelsea Complies with 8 U.S.C. § 1373
81.

The June 4, 2007 Resolution passed by Chelsea in no way affects Chelsea’s

compliance with 8 U.S.C. § 1373.
82.

The Chelsea Police Policy complies with § 1373.

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83.

Specifically, the Chelsea Police Policy outlines how the Chelsea Police Department

shall comply with PEP and Requests for Notification, as required by 8 U.S.C. § 1373. See
Chelsea Police Policy at 2-5.
84.

The Chelsea Police Policy also states that it is the policy of the Chelsea Police

Department not to inquire routinely about immigration status. Under 8 U.S.C. § 1373, local
governments are prohibited from passing laws that “prohibit[] or in any way restrict” the sending
or receiving of information related to immigration status, but it does not place an affirmative
obligation on municipalities to engage in federal immigration enforcement or to gather
information regarding immigration status. As the Chelsea Police Policy does not prohibit or in
any way restrict the sending or receiving of such information, Chelsea is in compliance with
§ 1373.
B. Lawrence Complies with 8 U.S.C. § 1373
85.

The Lawrence Trust Ordinance in no way affects Lawrence’s compliance with

8 U.S.C. § 1373.
86.

Specifically, § 1373 requires only that local governments do not prohibit the

sending and receiving of information regarding immigration status. The plain language of the
statute does not address any other form of information. There is no express prohibition regarding
immigration status set forth in the Lawrence Trust Ordinance. See Lawrence Trust Ordinance,
§ 9.20.040(b).
87.

The prohibition on physical access set forth in § 9.20.040(c) in no way prohibits the

sending or receiving of information addressed in § 1373.
88.

Additionally, § 9.20.040(d) of the Lawrence Trust Ordinance contemplates

acquiescence to immigration holds, including Requests for Notification, in compliance with 8
U.S.C. § 1373.
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89.

As the Lawrence Trust Ordinance does not prohibit or in any way restrict the

sending or receiving of information related to immigration status, Lawrence is in compliance
with § 1373.
VI.

PLAINTIFF CITIES’ RECEIPTS OF FEDERAL FUNDING
90.

Chelsea received, by conservative estimation, at least $13.9 million in FY 2016

from federal grants and pass-through grants from the federal government in areas including
education, community development, and policing. Chelsea is currently applying for a $1 million
grant for its fire department. Chelsea had an overall budget of approximately $170 million in FY
2016, meaning the federal funding accounted for nearly 10% of its total budget.
91.

Chelsea’s fiscal year begins on July 1, 2017. Chelsea typically begins budget

discussions in February, submits a budget proposal on May 1, holds City Council debates on the
budget for a month, and finalizes the budget by mid-June, just before the beginning of the fiscal
year. It is impossible to create a budget when it is unclear what effect the Executive Order will
have on its funding.
92.

Lawrence received $37.8 million in Fiscal Year (“FY”) 2016 from federal grants

and pass-through grants from the federal government in areas including education, water
pollution abatement, and child nutrition. Lawrence had an overall budget of approximately $245
million in FY 2016, meaning the federal funding accounted for over 15% of its total budget.
93.

Lawrence’s fiscal year begins on July 1, 2017. As it typically does in other years,

Lawrence will begin budget discussions in March, submit a budget proposal in May, hold City
Council debate for a month, and finalize the budget by mid-June, just before the beginning of the
fiscal year. It is impossible to create a budget when it is unclear what effect the Executive Order
will have on its funding.

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VII.

THE EXECUTIVE ORDER UNCONSTITUTIONALLY COERCES PLAINTIFF
CITIES TO IMPLEMENT FEDERAL IMMIGRATION POLICY
94.

Plaintiff Cities received no notice that the continued offering of federal grants was

contingent on their cooperation in carrying out federal immigration enforcement programs.
95.

The Executive Order conditions the receipt of federal grants on complying “with

applicable Federal law.” Executive Order Sec. 2(c).
96.

The Executive Order also conditions the receipt of federal grants or funds on

complying with “applicable Federal law” and complying with § 1373. Id. Sec. 9(a).
97.

In enacting § 1373, Congress included no language conditioning any federal

funding on cooperation by municipalities. Consistent with the plain language of the statute, the
federal government has never used § 1373 as a vehicle to impose conditions on the receipt of any
federal funding, including grant programs with no connection to law enforcement.
98.

The federal grants that Lawrence and Chelsea currently receive similarly do not

clearly condition funding on compliance with § 1373 or federal immigration policy.
99.

The Executive Order is ambiguous about the extent to which Plaintiff Cities must

execute and enforce immigration law under § 1373, and the extent to which Plaintiff Cities must
comply “with applicable Federal law.” Id. Sec. 2(c). The Executive Order is also ambiguous as
to whether “applicable Federal law” is limited to compliance with § 1373 or whether it refers to a
broader scope of federal laws. Id.
100. The Executive Order is ambiguous about how Plaintiff Cities must fulfill the
conditions for their continued receipt of federal funds, making it impossible for Plaintiff Cities to
exercise their choice of whether to participate in grant programs with full knowledge of their
conditions and cognizant of any consequences to their policymaking discretion. Plaintiff Cities
are unable to ascertain what is expected of them.

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101. The Executive Order penalizes Plaintiff Cities for not participating in its new
mandate by threatening to take away their existing funding even though those funds were not
clearly conditioned on compliance with § 1373.
102. The Executive Order is ambiguous about what federal grants are threatened, only
excepting from the threat funds “deemed necessary for law enforcement purposes by the
Attorney General or the Secretary.” Id. Sec. 9(a). The Executive Order appears to strike broadly
at all federal grants. If no federal grants are deemed necessary for law enforcement purposes by
the Attorney General or the Secretary, Plaintiff Cities stand to lose all grants or pass-through
grants from the federal government.
103. The Executive Order threatens Lawrence with the possibility of losing $37.8
million of federal grants and pass-through grants (as of FY 2016), except as deemed necessary
for law enforcement purposes. The Executive Order therefore threatens over 15% of Lawrence’s
annual budget.
104. The Executive Order threatens Chelsea with the possibility of losing at least $13.9
million of federal grants and pass-through grants (as of FY 2016), except as deemed necessary
for law enforcement purposes. The Executive Order therefore threatens nearly 10% of Chelsea’s
annual budget.
105. The threat against such large percentages of Plaintiff Cities’ annual budgets is an
attempt to coerce the Cities into complying with the demands of the Executive Order.
106. There is no connection or nexus between the majority of the funds threatened by the
Executive Order and the condition being imposed on Plaintiff Cities. For example, the condition
of enforcing immigration laws has nothing to do with funds marked for education, which make

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up the majority of federal grants to Plaintiff Cities. The Executive Order in no way attempts to
connect immigration to the purposes for which the threatened funds were granted or expended.
VIII. AS APPLIED AGAINST PLAINTIFF CITIES, 8 U.S.C. § 1373 IS
UNCONSTITUTIONAL
107.

As described above, supra ¶¶ 77-89, Plaintiff Cities are not “sanctuary

jurisdictions” as that term is defined in the Executive Order, because they comply with 8 U.S.C.
§ 1373.
108.

Plaintiff Cities do not “prohibit” or “restrict” government entities or officials from

sending or receiving immigration-status information with federal immigration agencies. Rather,
Plaintiff Cities have adopted policies and guidelines that prohibit local law enforcement
personnel from being immigration-conscious in their policing activities, and thus prohibit City
officers from treating individuals differently based on their citizenship or immigration status
(whether known or unknown).
109.

Under these policies, local law enforcement personnel will not even be placed in a

position in which they might be restricted from sending or receiving immigration-status
information with federal agencies, because they are instructed not to collect or consider
immigration-related information in the first place in their capacities as City officers and
employees.
110.

If Defendants apply § 1373 against Plaintiff Cities to designate them as

“sanctuary jurisdictions,” i.e., as entities that violate § 1373, that application of § 1373 would be
unconstitutional.
111.

As applied to Plaintiff Cities, § 1373 would be unconstitutional because it would

intrude upon local governments’ exercise of powers conferred upon them by the state, and would

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unlawfully restrict their ability to shape local governance according to the needs and policy
mandates of their electorates.
A. The Tenth Amendment Prohibits Federal Commandeering of State and Local
Governments
112.

Amendment Article 89 of the Massachusetts Constitution “reaffirm[s] the

customary and traditional liberties of the people with respect to the conduct of their local
government,” and “grant[s] and confirm[s] to the people of every city and town the right of selfgovernment in local matters.” Mass. Const. amend. art. LXXXIX. Specifically, under Article
89, cities and towns in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts “may, by the adoption, amendment,
or repeal of local ordinances or by-laws, exercise any power or function which the general court
has power to confer upon it.” Id. Pursuant to Article 89 and Massachusetts General Law
Chapter 43B, the “general court” of Massachusetts (i.e., the Massachusetts state legislature) has
conferred upon Massachusetts cities and towns the Commonwealth’s sovereign legislative
powers, reserving to the state legislature only limited enumerated powers (such as the power to
regulate elections, levy and assess taxes, and define crimes), and the power to impose uniform
state laws that apply generally across cities and towns.
113.

Under the Tenth Amendment, the federal government cannot compel or coerce

Plaintiff Cities to repeal, alter, or not enforce the policies that they have adopted with regard to
local law enforcement practices as set forth above. Nor can the federal government compel
Plaintiff Cities to collect immigration-related information so as to enable City government
personnel to share information regarding the immigration status of individuals with federal
agencies.
114.

If § 1373 is applied to prohibit Plaintiff Cities from adopting local law

enforcement policies such as those described above, it is unconstitutional because Congress may

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not “directly compel[]” states, or local governments exercising the sovereign powers of a state, to
“enact and enforce a federal regulatory program” or to “enact a legislative program.” New York
v. U.S., 505 U.S. 144, 161-62 (1992).
115. Section 1373 cannot lawfully be applied to prohibit Plaintiff Cities from adopting
local law enforcement policies such as those described above. To require Plaintiff Cities to
collect, consider, and/or permit federal access to immigration-related information concerning
their residents would deny Plaintiffs any “‘policymaking’ discretion” regarding the treatment of
immigration-related information, and would amount to a severe “intrusion upon state
sovereignty.” Printz v. U.S., 521 U.S. 898, 928 (1997).
116.

Through their local law enforcement policies, Plaintiff Cities have sought to

distinguish local law enforcement personnel from federal immigration enforcement personnel in
order to encourage public confidence in local law enforcement and local government
accountability to all City residents.
117.

As applied against these local governance efforts, § 1373 would violate a core

principle underlying the Tenth Amendment, namely, the accountability of state and federal
government officials to their electorates.
118.

The Tenth Amendment prohibits the federal government from commandeering

state officials to execute federal policy, in order to ensure that “state governments remain
responsive to the local electorate’s preferences” and “state officials remain accountable to the
people.” New York, 505 U.S. at 168.
119.

The application of § 1373 against Plaintiff Cities would place Plaintiff Cities “in

the position of taking the blame for [the] burdensomeness and … defects” of a federal program,

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thus blurring the lines of accountability that the Tenth Amendment is intended to preserve.
Printz, 521 U.S. at 929-30.
120.

The federal government also cannot force Plaintiff Cities to share access to, or use

of, City law enforcement “facilities, records/databases, booking lists,” or access to individuals in
the Cities’ custody, without “a criminal warrant signed by a judge and based on probable cause.”
Lawrence Trust Ordinance 9.020.040.
121.

The Tenth Amendment protects states, and entities exercising the powers reserved

to the states, from such commandeering of state and local resources and personnel: the federal
government cannot “force[] participation of the States’ executive in the actual administration of a
federal program.” Printz, 521 U.S. at 918; see also City of New York v. U.S., 179 F.3d 29, 34-35
(2d Cir. 1999) (the federal government may not “shift to the states enforcement and
administrative responsibilities allocated to the federal government by the Constitution,” nor may
it “affirmatively conscript[] states, localities, or their employees in the federal government’s
service”); Galarza v. Szalczyk, 745 F.3d 634, 644 (3d Cir. 2014) (“[I]mmigration officials may
not compel state and local agencies to expend funds and resources to effectuate a federal
regulatory scheme.”).
122. For the same reasons, the federal government cannot compel state and local
government entities to detain or continue the detention of any individual solely on the basis of
immigration status, and absent a warrant or probable cause. See Morales v. Chadbourne, 793
F.3d 208, 214-220 (1st Cir. 2015) (holding that local law enforcement officials’ decision to hold
a person on an ICE detainer without probable case violated the Fourth Amendment).
123.

Federal regulation makes it clear that if a state or local agency grants a federal

request to detain an individual for immigration purposes, the costs of such detention accrue to the

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state or local government. See 8 C.F.R. § 287.7(e) (“No detainer issued as a result of a
determination made under this chapter . . . shall incur any fiscal obligation on the part of the
Department.”).
124.

Courts have held that requiring state and local agencies to grant federal

immigration detainer requests is unconstitutional: “Under the Tenth Amendment, immigration
officials may not order state and local officials to imprison suspected aliens subject to removal at
the request of the federal government. Essentially, the federal government cannot command the
government agencies of the states to imprison persons of interest to federal officials.” Galarza,
745 F.3d at 643; see also Miranda-Olivares v. Clackamas Cnty., No. 3:12-CV-2317, 2014 WL
1414305, at *6 (D. Or. Apr. 11, 2014) (“[A] conclusion that Congress intended detainers as
orders for municipalities to enforce a federal regulatory scheme on behalf of INS would raise
potential violations of the anti-commandeering principle.”)
B. The Tenth Amendment Protects the Policy Choices Plaintiff Cities Have Made
Regarding the Treatment of an Individual’s Immigration Status in Their Cities
125.

As described above, supra ¶¶ 48-68, Chelsea and Lawrence have exercised the

sovereign state power conferred upon them by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to adopt
policies and ordinances that they have determined to be in the best interests of their residents and
local law enforcement mandates.
126.

Plaintiff Cities have exercised their right of self-governance under state law to

prohibit local law enforcement from considering immigration status as a factor in their policing
practices. A central purpose of these policies is to promote public confidence in the Cities’
police departments, and to ensure that residents and voters do not misattribute federal
immigration policies to the Cities or hold City officials accountable for federal immigration
enforcement actions. See Chelsea Police Policy at 5 (“[I]t is imperative that the local community

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is informed and educated…as to the specifics of the local law enforcement agencies’ actual role
in [the federal immigration Priority Enforcement Program] so as not to jeopardize the trust,
confidence and spirit of cooperation that the police department and the community at large have
formed” (emphasis removed); Lawrence Trust Ordinance, § 9.020.010 (“The purpose of this
LAWRENCE TRUST Policy and Order is to increase public confidence in Lawrence Law
Enforcement by providing guidelines associated with federal immigration enforcement, arrests,
and detentions.”).
127.

As described above, the Cities’ policies and ordinances prohibit local law

enforcement from considering immigration status as a relevant factor in policing practices. This
general policy enables the Cities to assure all their residents that factors such as an individual’s
race, ethnicity, national origin, or immigration status, which are unrelated to local law
enforcement mandates, “shall have no bearing on an individual’s treatment” by local police.
Lawrence Trust Ordinance, § 9.20.010.
128.

Studies have shown that members of immigrant communities are often afraid to

contact local law enforcement, fearing that interaction with local police may lead to deportation
for themselves or their loved ones. Hing, at 249-50, 303-08. Open communication and good
relationships with local communities are critical in preventing and investigating crime. Id.
Crime is significantly lower in sanctuary counties compared with non-sanctuary counties. See
Wong.
129.

Absent the promise of sanctuary cities to avoid local entanglement with federal

immigration investigations and enforcement, undocumented immigrants would likely avoid
interacting with local law enforcement even when they are victims of, or witnesses to, crimes, for

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fear of risking deportation as a result of engaging local police. Dispelling this fear benefits all
residents of the community, as it facilitates more effective reporting and prosecution of crime.
130.

For example, the Chelsea Police Policy explains: “The Chelsea Police Department

relies upon the cooperation of all persons, documented citizens and residents as well as those
without a specific documentation status, to achieve our important goals of protecting life and
property, investigating and preventing crime as well as resolving recurring neighborhood issues.
Assistance from the many various immigrant populations is especially important when an
immigrant, whether documented or not, is the victim or witness to a crime. It is absolutely
essential that these individuals do not feel apprehensive or intimidated in coming forward with
the requisite information and general firsthand knowledge to aid in investigating a particular
crime. This type of mutual trust and spirit of cooperation is absolutely crucial in preventing and
solving crime incidents, as well as maintaining public order, safety and security in the entire
community.” Chelsea Police Policy at 1-2.
131.

Similarly, the Lawrence Trust Ordinance declares that the purpose of its policy

against aiding federal immigration actions is “to increase public confidence in Lawrence Law
enforcement,” to encourage all residents, regardless of immigration or citizenship status, to
report crimes and aid local law enforcement efforts if and when they are witnesses to crimes.
Lawrence Trust Ordinance, § 9.20.010.
132.

Without guarantees such as those provided by Plaintiff Cities’ policies against

entanglement in federal immigration investigations and detentions, undocumented immigrants
who are victims of a crime or who witness a crime face a perilous choice: either report the crime
and risk deportation, or suffer as a silent victim or witness to crime. The first option risks being
removed from one’s life and family in the U.S., in many cases to a country where one could face

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life-threatening conditions or even persecution. The second option enables criminal actors to
prey on a victim with impunity, or may effectively ensure that persistent crime goes unreported
and unpunished in the community.
133.

Without the protection of sanctuary city policies, this Hobson’s choice between

risking deportation to a country from which one has escaped, and suffering silently under
dangerous conditions in a City in which one has sought refuge, particularly affects, among
others, victims of domestic violence. See Eagle Tribune Article. Out of fear of deportation,
these particularly vulnerable populations of undocumented immigrants may avoid seeking the
protection of police and public safety services, and may avoid reporting crimes that they would
otherwise report in a sanctuary city.
134.

Additionally, when witnesses of criminal activity feel that they can come forward

without fearing deportation, it increases the safety of the entire community.
135.

Encouraging residents to come forward with information regarding criminal

activity is especially important in cities such as Chelsea and Lawrence, where more than a third
of the Cities’ populations were born outside of the United States. See supra ¶¶ 28, 32. Assuring
residents that race, ethnicity, nationality, and immigration status—whether known or unknown—
will have no bearing on an individual’s treatment by local police is also of great importance in
cities such as Chelsea and Lawrence, where over 60% of residents identify as Hispanic or Latino.
See supra ¶¶ 28, 32.
136.

In consideration of their residents’ interests and particular needs, Chelsea and

Lawrence have made the policy choice to treat immigration status as an irrelevant factor in the
routine operations of local law enforcement, absent certain exceptions for individuals arrested

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for, convicted of, or suspected (based on probable cause) of participating in certain enumerated
crimes.
137.

In accordance with Plaintiff Cities’ commitment to enforcing the law without

regard to characteristics of individual residents that are irrelevant to the Cities’ criminal
investigation and prosecution mandates, the Cities specifically prohibit local law enforcement
from inquiring into an individual’s immigration status, collecting or maintaining immigrationrelated information, or detaining (or extending the detention of) an individual solely on the basis
of immigration status.
138.

Plaintiff Cities have determined, as a matter of local governance and law

enforcement, that matters of federal immigration are properly left to the federal government, and
that participation by local officers in federal immigration programs would be detrimental to the
Cities’ governance and law enforcement purposes. That choice is protected by the Tenth
Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and cannot be restricted by 8 U.S.C. § 1373 or the
President’s Executive Order.
139.

The application of 8 U.S.C. § 1373 to prohibit Plaintiff Cities from adopting the

local law enforcement policies and ordinances discussed above would be unconstitutional as a
violation of the Tenth Amendment.
C. Section 1373 is Unconstitutional Under the Tenth Amendment
140.

On its face, § 1373 restricts the authority of state and local governments to

regulate their officers and employees with regard to the treatment of information regarding an
individual’s immigration status.
141.

Section 1373’s restriction on how state and local governments may regulate the

treatment of information regarding an individual’s immigration status is an unconstitutional
federal restriction on state and local policy choices.
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142.

States, and local governments exercising powers granted by the states, like

Chelsea and Lawrence, have the protected authority under the Tenth Amendment to determine
how to regulate internal affairs, including how to guide local law enforcement to effectuate the
will of their local electorates.
143.

Section 1373’s prohibition against the exercise of policymaking discretion by

state and local governments with regard to the treatment of information regarding immigrationstatus is unconstitutional under the Tenth Amendment as an unlawful federal intrusion on powers
reserved to the states.
D. The Executive Order’s Directive Against Policies and Practices that “Prevent or
Hinder the Enforcement of Federal Law” is Unconstitutional Under the Tenth
Amendment
144.

The Executive Order purports to give the Attorney General carte blanche to “take

appropriate enforcement action against any entity . . . which has in effect a statute, policy or
practice that prevents or hinders the enforcement of Federal law.” Executive Order Sec. 9(a).
This blanket authority, asserted in the vague terms used in the Order, is an assault on
fundamental principles of federalism undergirding the U.S. Constitution and the Tenth
Amendment.
145.

The Tenth Amendment, and the federalist system under which state and federal

governments coexist, protect state and local governments from federal intrusion on powers
reserved to the states, and prohibit the federal government from forcing state and local
governments to implement legislation according to federal directives or “to regulate in a
particular field or a particular way.” New York, 505 U.S. at 161.
146.

The Executive Order purports to grant federal officers and agencies unfettered

discretion to determine whether a governmental entity has in effect statutes, policies, or practices
that “prevent[] or hinder[] the enforcement of Federal law,” and grants the Federal Executive
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power to “take appropriate enforcement action” against such entities. Executive Order Sec. 9(a).
On its face, this provision of the Executive Order is an unconstitutional attempt to force state and
local governments to fall in line with—or regulate under the directive of—the federal
government.
147.

If Plaintiff Cities are subject to penalties under the Executive Order as entities that

have “in effect a statute, policy, or practice that prevents or hinders the enforcement of Federal
law,” then the Executive Order as applied to Plaintiffs is unconstitutional for violating the Tenth
Amendment. Id.
IX.

THE EXECUTIVE ORDER VIOLATES BEDROCK SEPARATION OF POWERS
PRINCIPLES
148. The Executive Order entrusts Executive branch officials with the power to interpret

8 U.S.C. § 1373 in order to determine whether an entity “willfully refuse[s] to comply with the
statutory provision” or what entities have “in effect a statute, policy, or practice that prevents or
hinders the enforcement of Federal law.” Id.
149.

On its face, the Executive Order instructs the Attorney General and Secretary of

DHS to deny funds because of § 1373 violations without any regard to whether the applicable
funding programs condition funding on compliance with § 1373.
150. The Executive Order therefore legislates a remedy for executively determined
violations of § 1373 by creating a penalty that Congress did not authorize. Specifically, the
Executive Order compels the withholding of federal funds without regard to whether compliance
with § 1373 is a permissible condition on grant money allocated by Congress.
151. The Executive Order effectively imposes new conditions on federal grants that
Congress did not establish. Congress, not the Executive, is granted the power of the purse under
Article I of the U.S. Constitution. The attempt in the Executive Order to place conditions on

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federal grants that Congress did not authorize exceeds the boundaries of executive power set by
the U.S. Constitution.
152. The Executive Order therefore violates the constitutional separation of powers
because it imposes conditions on existing federal grant programs without either statutory or
constitutional authority.
X.

THE EXECUTIVE ORDER IS UNCONSTITUTIONALLY VAGUE
153. The Executive Order provides four potential definitions of “sanctuary

jurisdictions.” It is unclear what statutes, policies, or practices “prevent[] or hinder[] the
enforcement of Federal law,” what “willfully refus[ing] to comply with 8 U.S.C [§] 1373”
entails, or what delineates the scope of “willfully violat[ing] Federal law.” Executive Order Sec.
1, Sec. 9(a). Some of the definitions of “sanctuary jurisdiction” use the word “willful,”
suggesting a specific intent to violate the law is necessary to be a “sanctuary jurisdiction.” Other
definitions, like those referencing a statute, policy or practice “that prevents or hinders the
enforcement of Federal law” suggest more of a negligence standard. Id. Sec. 9(a). Plaintiff
Cities have no reliable way to determine which definition of “sanctuary jurisdiction” applies and
whether they fit into the operative definitions.
154. Because the significant financial penalties at stake in the Executive Order are
conditioned on whether Plaintiff Cities are deemed “sanctuary jurisdictions,” the Executive
Order is also vague about whether Plaintiff Cities are subject to its penalties.
155. The Executive Order is also vague as to the sanctions for “sanctuary jurisdictions.”
On its face, the Executive Order threatens receipt of all federal grants or all federal funds,
whether or not they are connected with immigration policies, except as “deemed necessary for
law enforcement purposes by the Attorney General or the Secretary.” Id. Sec. 9(a). The

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Executive Order provides no guidance on what grants are “necessary for law enforcement
purposes.”
156. The vagueness of the Executive Order imposes a chilling effect on all cities, as it is
impossible to determine if Plaintiff Cities and others are subject to its terms, or what the potential
consequences may be if they are subject to its terms.
157. The Executive Order’s proscriptions and sanctions are unconstitutionally vague in
their applications, in violation of the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment of the U.S.
Constitution. The Executive Order does not provide meaningful guidance as to what
municipalities must do to continue to receive funding, and it encourages arbitrary enforcement of
penalties by the Executive branch.
CAUSES OF ACTION
COUNT ONE
DECLARATORY RELIEF – THE CITY OF CHELSEA COMPLIES WITH
8 U.S.C. § 1373
158. Plaintiff City of Chelsea repeats and incorporates by reference each allegation of
the prior paragraphs, as fully set forth herein.
159. Chelsea is a self-proclaimed sanctuary city.
160. Defendants contend that “sanctuary jurisdictions” do not comply with 8 U.S.C.
§ 1373.
161. Chelsea complies with 8 U.S.C. § 1373. Neither the June 4, 2007 Resolution nor
the Chelsea Police Policy prohibit, or in any way restrict, any government entity or official from
sending to, or receiving from, federal immigration agencies information regarding citizenship or
immigration status, whether lawful or unlawful, of any individual.

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162. An actual controversy presently exists between Chelsea and Defendants about
whether Chelsea complies with 8 U.S.C. § 1373.
163.

A judicial determination resolving this controversy is necessary and appropriate at

this time.
COUNT TWO
DECLARATORY RELIEF – THE CITY OF LAWRENCE COMPLIES WITH
8 U.S.C. § 1373
164. Plaintiff City of Lawrence repeats and incorporates by reference each allegation of
the prior paragraphs, as fully set forth herein.
165. Lawrence has taken actions that subject it to the title of sanctuary city.
166. Defendants contend that “sanctuary jurisdictions” do not comply with 8 U.S.C.
§ 1373.
167. Lawrence complies with 8 U.S.C. § 1373. The Lawrence Trust Ordinance does not
prohibit, or in any way restrict, any government entity or official from sending to, or receiving
from, federal immigration agencies information regarding citizenship or immigration status,
whether lawful or unlawful, of any individual.
168. An actual controversy presently exists between Lawrence and Defendants about
whether Lawrence complies with 8 U.S.C. § 1373.
169. A judicial determination resolving this controversy is necessary and appropriate at
this time.
COUNT THREE
TENTH AMENDMENT - EXECUTIVE ORDER SECTION 9(A)’S ENFORCEMENT
DIRECTIVE IS UNCONSTITUIONALLY COERCIVE
170. Plaintiffs repeat and incorporate by reference each allegation of the prior paragraphs
as if fully set forth herein.

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171. The Executive Order is unconstitutionally coercive of Plaintiff Cities, in violation
of the Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, as the Executive Branch does not
have “authority to require the States to regulate.” Nat’l Fed’n of Indep. Bus v. Sebelius, 132 S.
Ct. 2566, 2602 (2012).
172. The conditions that the Executive Order Section 9(a) places on federal grants are
constitutionally improper because they were not established unambiguously prior to the funds
being granted, and did not allow Plaintiff Cities to make knowing, cognizant decisions about
whether to accept federal grants. Pennhurst State Sch. & Hosp. v. Halderman, 451 U.S. 1, 24-25
(1981).
173. The amount of federal funds being threatened is unconstitutionally coercive.
Sebelius, 132 S. Ct. at 2604-05 (finding the threatened loss of 10% of a state’s overall budget to
be so coercive as to be a “gun to the head”).
174. There is no connection between the conditions imposed in the Executive Order
mandating compliance with federal immigration laws, specifically 8 U.S.C. § 1373, and the
federal funds being threatened, as is constitutionally required. South Dakota v. Dole, 483 U.S.
203, 211 (1987).
175. As applied to Plaintiff Cities, the retroactive conditions placed on federal grants in
the Executive Order, the threatened loss of federal funds, and the lack of nexus between the
Executive Order and the federal funds being threatened constitute unconstitutional coercion in
violation of the Tenth Amendment of the United States Constitution.
COUNT FOUR
TENTH AMENDMENT – THE EXECUTIVE ORDER IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL
176. Plaintiffs repeat and incorporate by reference each allegation of the prior
paragraphs as if fully set forth herein.
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177. On its face, the Executive Order is unconstitutional as a violation of the Tenth
Amendment because it purports to grant Executive officers the authority to penalize state and
local governments that are deemed to “prevent or hinder” the enforcement of federal law, and
thus purports to enable the federal government to force state and local governments to adopt
policies and practices that support or align with federal policies, to the subordination of state and
local government interests.
COUNT FIVE
TENTH AMENDMENT – 8 U.S.C. § 1373(a) IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL AS APPLIED TO
PLAINTIFF CITIES
178. Plaintiffs repeat and incorporate by reference each allegation of the prior paragraphs
as if fully set forth herein.
179. As applied against Plaintiff Cities, 8 U.S.C. § 1373(a) is unconstitutional as a
violation of the Tenth Amendment by, inter alia, restricting Plaintiffs from exercising powers
conferred upon them by the state in the regulation of Plaintiffs’ internal affairs and policymaking decisions regarding effective law enforcement priorities and the regulation of local
resources.
COUNT SIX
TENTH AMENDMENT - 8 U.S.C. § 1373(a) IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL
180. Plaintiffs repeat and incorporate by reference each allegation of the prior
paragraphs as if fully set forth herein.
181. On its face, 8 U.S.C. § 1373 is unconstitutional as a violation of the Tenth
Amendment because it seeks to limit state and local governments’ authority to regulate their
internal affairs and to exercise their powers of self-government. Section 1373 is invalid in all its
applications because its terms leave no room for an application of the statute that does not restrict

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state and local governments’ policy choices. The restriction imposed by any possible application
of § 1373 would violate principles of federalism and the Tenth Amendment.
COUNT SEVEN
THE EXECUTIVE ORDER VIOLATES THE SEPARATION OF POWERS
RECOGNIZED BY THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION
182. Plaintiffs repeat and incorporate by reference each allegation of the prior paragraphs
as if fully set forth herein.
183. The Executive Order violates the separation of powers recognized by the U.S.
Constitution.
184. The Executive Order creates a penalty for § 1373 violations that Congress did not
authorize. Moreover, the Executive Order imposes the penalties without any regard to whether
Congress authorized the Secretary or the Attorney General to impose such conditions on funds in
the underlying statute.
COUNT EIGHT
FIFTH AMENDMENT – THE EXECUTIVE ORDER IS UNCONSTITUIONALLY
VAGUE, IN VIOLATION OF THE DUE PROCESS CLAUSE
185. Plaintiffs repeat and incorporate by reference each allegation of the prior paragraphs
as if fully set forth herein.
186. The Executive Order is unconstitutionally vague. It is impossible for Plaintiff
Cities to determine if they fit into its definition(s) of “sanctuary jurisdictions,” whether they are
subject to its penalties, or what penalties might be imposed if they are determined to be
“sanctuary jurisdictions.”
187. As applied against Plaintiff Cities, the Executive Order is unconstitutionally vague
within the meaning of the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment because it fails to clarify

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what is required of Plaintiff Cities and thus encourages arbitrary enforcement by failing to
describe with sufficient particularity what a city must do in order to satisfy its mandates.

PRAYER FOR RELIEF
Wherefore, Plaintiffs pray for the following relief:
A.

Declare that Plaintiff Cities are not “sanctuary jurisdictions” as defined by the

Executive Order and thus not subject to its directives;
B.

Declare that Plaintiff Cities comply with 8 U.S.C. § 1373;

C.

Declare that the City of Chelsea currently complies with 8 U.S.C. § 1373, and that

its June 4, 2007 Resolution and Chelsea Police Policy do not violate 8 U.S.C. § 1373;
D.

Declare that the City of Lawrence currently complies with 8 U.S.C. § 1373, and

that the Lawrence Trust Ordinance does not violate 8 U.S.C. § 1373;
E.

Enjoin Defendants from enforcing 8 U.S.C. § 1373(a) or using it as a condition

for receiving federal funds;
F.

Declare that 8 U.S.C. § 1373(a) is invalid as applied to Plaintiff Cities and their

sanctuary-city laws and policies, which were enacted for legitimate local purposes related to
public health and safety;
G.

Declare that 8 U.S.C. § 1373(a) is unconstitutional on its face;

H.

Declare that the Executive Order’s directive that “the Attorney General shall take

appropriate enforcement action against any entity that violates 8 U.S.C. [§] 1373, or which has in
effect a statute, policy, or practice that prevents or hinders the enforcement of Federal law,” is
unconstitutional on its face;
I.

Declare that the Executive Order’s directive that “the Attorney General shall take

appropriate enforcement action against any entity that violates 8 U.S.C. [§] 1373, or which has in
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effect a statute, policy, or practice that prevents or hinders the enforcement of Federal law,” is
unconstitutional as applied to Plaintiffs;
J.

Enjoin Defendants from designating Plaintiff Cities as jurisdictions that fail to

comply with 8 U.S.C. § 1373;
K.

Enjoin unconstitutional applications of the enforcement directive in Executive

Order Sec. 2(c);
L.

Enjoin unconstitutional applications of the enforcement directive in Executive

Order Section 9(a);
M.

In the alternative, enjoin Defendants to provide further clarity on the vague

definitions of “sanctuary jurisdictions,” which municipalities are subject to its penalties, and
what those penalties might be;
N.

Award Plaintiffs reasonable costs and attorneys’ fees; and

O.

Grant any other further relief that the Court deems fit and proper.

Dated: February 8, 2017
Respectfully submitted,
/s/ Inez H. Friedman-Boyce
Inez H. Friedman-Boyce (BBO# 630910)
[e-mail]
Daryl Wiesen (BBO# 634872)
[e-mail]
Elaine Herrmann Blais (BBO # 656142)
[e-mail]
Jennifer Burns Luz (BBO # 657739)
[e-mail]
Sarah J. Fischer (BBO # 688878)
[e-mail]
Alexandra Lu (BBO # 691114)
[e-mail]
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Louis Lobel (BBO # 693292)
[e-mail]
Goodwin Procter LLP
100 Northern Ave.
Boston, MA 02210
[phone]
Elizabeth Holland (pro hac vice pending)
[e-mail]
Goodwin Procter LLP
The New York Times Building
620 Eighth Avenue
New York, NY 10018-1405
[phone]
Brian Burgess (pro hac vice pending)
[e-mail]
Goodwin Procter LLP
901 New York Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20001-4432
[phone]
David Zimmer (pro hac vice pending)
[e-mail]
Goodwin Procter LLP
Three Embarcadero Center
San Francisco, CA 94111-4017
[phone]
Iván Espinoza-Madrigal (pro hac vice pending)
[e-mail]
Oren Sellstrom (BBO # 569045)
[e-mail]
Sophia Hall (BBO # 684541)
[e-mail]
Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Economic
Justice

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61 Batterymarch St., 5th Floor
Boston, MA 02110
[phone]
Attorneys for Plaintiffs City of Chelsea and City of
Lawrence

45