"Today is a significant escalation in the federal government's efforts to confront the resistance of 'sanctuary cities,'" Attorney General William Barr said.
The Justice Department is taking new legal action against local and state governments over their sanctuary city policies.
On Monday, Attorney General William Barr announced that his department filed lawsuits against the state of New Jersey and against King County, Washington, where Seattle is located.
The suit against New Jersey challenges a directive that limits the information state and local law enforcement can share with federal immigration authorities. And the complaint against King County is over an executive order that prohibits Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials from using the county airport for deportation flights.
Officials in New Jersey and King County hit back against the lawsuits, calling them an election-year stunt and accusing Barr and President Donald Trump of "bullying."
The suits were filed just days after the Trump administration barred New Yorkers from participating in Global Entry and other Trusted Traveler Programs that allow modified screening for pre-approved travelers.
The restriction was put in place in response to New York's "Green Light" law, which lets undocumented immigrants obtain driver's licenses. It also prevents the DMV from sharing residents' personal information with federal immigration authorities. New York has since filed a lawsuit over the policy.
Contains footage from CNN.
