DOJ Sues Maryland Over Sanctuary Policies: What Comes Next in Court

On July 9, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a lawsuit against Maryland and Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown over the state’s Community Trust Act. DOJ says the law interferes with federal immigration enforcement and is unconstitutional under the Constitution’s Supremacy Clause, and it asks the court to stop Maryland from enforcing the challenged provisions while the case moves forward.

What the Community Trust Act does (as described in reporting)

Coverage of the dispute explains that the Community Trust Act places limits on how state and local law enforcement can engage with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Key restrictions described by local and national outlets include:

• Limiting law enforcement from holding people for ICE without a judicial warrant, except for felony crimes and sex offenders.
• Barrring authorities from asking detained people about their immigration status.
• Restricting how much local authorities can communicate with ICE.

DOJ’s legal theory: Supremacy Clause preemption

DOJ frames the case as a federal-state conflict over immigration enforcement. In its filing, DOJ argues Maryland’s sanctuary approach obstructs federal operations and is preempted under the Supremacy Clause.

DOJ also alleges the state’s refusal to cooperate has already caused operational problems for federal enforcement, including that facilities refused to facilitate transferring illegal aliens to federal custody even when presented with a routine detainer.

Who is sued—and why it matters beyond Maryland

The lawsuit names Maryland and Attorney General Anthony Brown as defendants.

For readers, the practical stakes are about what local agencies may (or may not) do when they hold someone in local custody—especially around warrant-based cooperation, questions posed to detainees, and information-sharing channels.

What to watch next in federal court

At this stage, the case is still defined by allegations and legal arguments; there is no merits ruling described in the sources provided. What to watch next is whether the federal court grants the request to block enforcement of the challenged provisions while the lawsuit proceeds, and how the court addresses DOJ’s Supremacy Clause theory.

Sources

• U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Public Affairs (official release on the lawsuit)
• CBS News Baltimore (reader-facing explainer of what changes under the Community Trust Act and the dispute overview)
• WTOP (additional mainstream summary and context for the dispute)
• The Banner (Maryland) (local/state-context reporting on the law’s passage and immediate official responses)