Power Grab/Fire anyone who can stop him
The Justice Department sued Maryland and its attorney general over the state’s sanctuary policies
The July 9, 2026 complaint is the latest of more than 20 Civil Division suits against sanctuary jurisdictions, brought under a directive from Todd Blanche, then acting Attorney General.
What happened
On July 9, 2026, the Justice Department’s Civil Division sued the State of Maryland and Attorney General Anthony Brown in federal court. The complaint alleges that Maryland’s sanctuary policies interfere with federal immigration enforcement and are preempted under the Supremacy Clause. It says Maryland facilities refused to transfer people to federal custody on routine detainers.
The complaint says the refusals have “already had negative operational consequences.” Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward said the department “will never stand for such lawless action from blue state leaders.” Civil Division chief Brett Shumate called the policies “irresponsible.”
The department described the suit as the latest of more than 20 against sanctuary jurisdictions, including Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois and New York. They were brought under a memorandum from Todd Blanche, then acting Attorney General, instructing the division to identify state and local laws that “impede lawful federal operations.”
Who benefited
The deportation campaign gained another lever against a Democratic-led state bordering the capital. The Justice Department’s political leadership can point to a growing docket of suits against “blue state leaders.” The suit also pressures Maryland counties and jails individually.
Who wanted something
Blanche’s directive generated the campaign of suits. ICE leadership has sought to end sanctuary limits on detainer compliance. Trump’s January 2025 executive orders directed agencies to cut funds to and sue sanctuary jurisdictions.
Who lost out
Maryland’s elected government had its policy choices on local policing challenged as unlawful. Immigrant residents of Maryland face greater risk of transfer to ICE if the state loses. Local police departments’ community-trust rationale for sanctuary policies is dismissed in the complaint.
Why it matters
The suit is one of more than 20 in which the federal government sues states for not helping it deport people. The department’s own language, attacking “blue state leaders,” names the political opponents it is aimed at.
Sources U.S. Department of Justice (primary)U.S. Department of Justice (primary)