Local officials at these localities issued executive orders and barred hotels in their jurisdictions from accommodating illegal immigrants. The lawsuit, filed in Manhattan State Supreme Court, asked the court to strike down all these orders.

"These counties have implemented misguided and unlawful executive orders premised on false claims that the prospect of a few hundred asylum seekers sheltered at the city's expense across multiple counties constitute an emergency and imperil public safety," Sylvia Hinds-Radix, a lawyer for the city, said at Wednesday's press conference.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams said the lawsuit is aimed at bringing an end to "xenophobic bigotry."