Sanctuary showdown

President Donald Trump’s promise to carry out the largest mass deportation operation in U.S. history is, unsurprisingly, running into resistance in some states. Now the administration is taking its fight to the courts. The Department of Justice on May 2 sued the state of Colorado and the city of Denver for interfering with immigration enforcement. The lawsuit claims the state’s and city’s sanctuary laws conflict with federal law and thus violate the U.S. Constitution.

As an example of Denver’s illegal immigration problem, Trump officials point to a 2024 incident in which a viral video appeared to show armed, Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang members storming an apartment complex in Aurora, a Denver suburb. The city has admitted the incident did indicate crime in the area but said the White House’s description of it as a takeover was exaggerated.

The lawsuit takes aim at three statewide laws and one Denver ordinance. One Colorado law bans law enforcement from honoring detainment requests from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) unless there is a judicial warrant. Another law stops local agencies from sharing biometric and immigration data. Another bans new contracts for immigration detention centers. And the Denver ordinance bans city employees from helping immigration enforcement officers without a judge’s order. The Trump administration claims these amount to sanctuary city laws.

But Gov. Jared Polis, a Democrat, claims Colorado is not a sanctuary state and regularly works with federal agencies. Denver Mayor Mike Johnston, also a Democrat, insisted the administration has no grounds to sue: He said that when there is a judicial warrant, city officials regularly communicate with ICE on release dates and detention information.

Now it’s up to a federal court to rule on the dispute. The Justice Department has filed similar lawsuits against Rochester, N.Y., and Chicago.

Gulf War victory parade in 1991 Zuma Press / Alamy

Military parade returns to Washington

The U.S. Army plans to parade through the streets of Washington, D.C., on Flag Day, June 14, to commemorate the military branch’s 250th birthday. That also happens to be President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday. The Army confirmed that the parade will include tanks, infantry vehicles, and thousands of soldiers. It will feature helicopter flyovers, parachute jumps, musical performances, and fitness competitions, all culminating in a fireworks display.

Trump wanted a military parade during his first term, but the event was scrapped after estimates revealed it would cost more than $90 million. The likely cost for the June parade was unclear as of early May.

“Peanuts compared to the value of doing it,” Trump told NBC News. “We have the greatest weapons in the world. And we’re going to celebrate it.”

Washington last held a major parade in 1991 to celebrate the end of the Gulf War. In 1953, President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s inaugural parade featured 22,000 service members and a nuclear warhead cannon. —C.L.