BOSTON — A federal District Court today dismissed a lawsuit filed by the Trump administration attempting to strike down the City of Boston's Trust Act. The court found that the federal government lacked standing, and the ordinance remains in place. The Trust Act prohibits local police from holding a person on a federal detainer request absent an active criminal warrant.
Laura Rótolo, senior advocacy director for field initiatives at the ACLU of Massachusetts, released the following statement in response:
"We are glad that this meritless lawsuit has been dismissed. The Constitution is clear: the federal government cannot force local police to do federal work, and the Trump administration cannot force great cities like Boston to serve a cruel political agenda. The Trust Act is based on a simple principle: that public safety requires public trust. As a result of the court's decision, that fundamental bedrock remains in place."
The Department of Justice filed United States v. City of Boston in September 2025. In November, the ACLU of Massachusetts filed an amicus brief on behalf of more than a dozen organizations in support of the Trust Act.
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