Federal Judge Blocks Trump Administration’s Funding Cuts to Sanctuary Cities
A federal judge ruled on Friday that the Trump administration cannot cut funding to 34 cities and counties that have adopted “sanctuary” policies limiting their cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.
US District Judge William Ollick, who had previously issued similar orders protecting more than a dozen other jurisdictions, has now extended a provisional injunction that prevents the administration from reducing federal funds or imposing immigration-related conditions on two grant programs.
Ollick noted that the administration’s opposition to the injunction seemed misguided, especially after they had initially challenged the first order.
Under the Trump administration, pressure has been mounting on jurisdictions labeled as sanctuary cities as part of a larger deportation strategy. An executive order issued by Trump directed Attorney General Pam Bondy and Secretary of Homeland Security Christy Noem to ensure that federal payments would not be withheld from governments that protect undocumented immigrants from deportation.
Many of these cities and counties have taken legal action against the federal government, emphasizing that billions in funding could be at risk. The Justice Department has also launched lawsuits against several cities, including New York City and Los Angeles, regarding their sanctuary policies.
Ollick characterized Trump’s directives and subsequent enforcement actions as a “forced threat” that he considered unconstitutional. Earlier this year, the Department of Homeland Security released a list of over 500 sanctuaries the federal government claims violate its directives, stating that formal notifications would be sent out to each jurisdiction.
In addition, the DHS indicated it would inform communities if they are perceived to be violating federal criminal laws. This list was eventually removed after it was discovered that some jurisdictions supporting the administration’s immigration policy had been included.
