The Trump administration announced on Friday that it had filed a lawsuit against four New Jersey cities, accusing them of being so-called sanctuary jurisdictions and obstructing federal immigration agents,

The US sued four “sanctuary cities” in New Jersey, claiming they are blocking the work of federal immigration officials, as the Trump administration seeks to remove obstacles to its mass deportation plans.

Justice Department lawyers say in a lawsuit that Newark, Jersey City, Hoboken and Paterson are shielding illegal immigrants from lawful prosecution.

A spate of arrests at immigration courts across the United States this week has rattled people showing up for hearings and may signal a coordinated attempt at deportations under fast-track authority that President Donald Trump sharply expanded soon after taking office.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers have been instructed to arrest people immediately after a judge has ordered them to be deported or after prosecutors move to drop their case.

Multiple sources have confirmed that at least a handful of people were arrested on the spot after their cases were dismissed in Dallas.

U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White said the Trump administration “acted arbitrarily and capriciously” in efforts to terminate foreign students’ visas and that nationwide relief was appropriate.

Judge Jeffrey White of the Northern District of California provided temporary relief to some international students while a legal battle continues.

The ruling comes as the Trump admin revoked Harvard's certification under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP).