SAN FRANCISCO — A federal judge in California on Thursday denied a request by the Trump administration to suspend California’s sanctuary policies that limit cooperation between federal immigration authorities and state and local law enforcement.

In a decision praised by opponents of the Trump administration’s immigration policies, Judge John A. Mendez of the US District Court for the Eastern District of California ruled that the state’s decision not to assist in federal immigration enforcement was not an “obstacle.’’

“Standing aside does not equate to standing in the way,’’ the judge wrote.

He urged Congress to find a “long-term solution’’ to federal immigration policy — “to set aside the partisan and polarizing politics dominating the current immigration debate and work in a cooperative and bipartisan fashion toward drafting and passing legislation that addresses this critical political issue.’’

new york times