Adams is facing fierce resistance from the City Council as members seek to stop him from expanding the role of federal immigration agents in the city.

The case filed Thursday is the latest attempt by the Trump administration to sanction New York City over its "sanctuary" policies. Earlier this year, the administration began to claw back tens of millions of dollars that had already been allocated by Congress in migrant-crisis reimbursements.

The Justice Department says city officials are intentionally obstructing enforcement of federal immigration law.