Judge Rules Against Sanctuary Cities in Immigration Grant Dispute

A federal judge has ruled against two sanctuary cities, enabling President Donald Trump to proceed with blocking specific Department of Justice (DOJ) grants.

This year, Trump enacted two executive orders aimed at collaborating with ICE in sanctuary cities to enforce federal immigration laws, indicating that failure to comply could lead to the loss of federal funding.

Following the signing of these orders, Chelsea and Somerville, both in Massachusetts, initiated lawsuits, arguing that they would face irreparable harm if the orders were implemented.

On Thursday, Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton sided with the Trump administration over the sanctuary cities.

In his ruling, Gorton noted, “The court acknowledges the nuances and complex relationships that characterize the management of municipalities and how they prioritize component services.” However, he emphasized that the cities needed to demonstrate they were likely to suffer imminent and irreparable damages without injunctive relief. The plaintiff did not do so.

Consequently, Plaintiff’s claim for a provisional injunction against the defendant will be denied.

Dale Wilcox, representing the American Federation of Immigration Reforms (FAIR), which contributed a brief for the case, stated that the sanctuary cities are continuing their refusal to cooperate with ICE and sought a court intervention against Trump’s stringent immigration policies.

Wilcox argued that the initiative had not succeeded, expressing, “Rather than simply complying with federal law and the constitution, these cities are in court to maintain funding while they persist in violating the law. Yet, the judicial system cannot recognize the government’s pressure on these cities to adhere to the law as a legitimate harm. The courts were satisfied to deny the injunction, clarifying that no imminent irreparable harm exists.”

The case is recorded as Chelsea City vs Trump, no. 1:25-CV-10442 in the US District Court for Massachusetts.