A federal judge has barred the Trump administration from withholding or conditioning federal funds for 34 additional cities and counties because of their so-called sanctuary policies, expanding a restriction first imposed in April. In a ruling issued late Friday in San Francisco, U.S. District Judge William Orrick extended his preliminary injunction to cover large jurisdictions such as Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, Denver and Baltimore. Orrick found that the administration’s threat to cut off broad categories of federal aid unless local governments assist with civil immigration enforcement violates the Tenth Amendment. He said the executive orders at issue pose an unconstitutional “coercive threat,” echoing language from his earlier order that protected 16 plaintiffs including San Francisco, Portland and Seattle. The case stems from directives President Donald Trump signed in January and February ordering Attorney General Pam Bondi and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to ensure that federal payments do not support jurisdictions limiting cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Local governments suing in the consolidated action say billions of dollars in housing, public-safety and social-service grants are at risk. The Justice Department, which is already appealing Orrick’s prior ruling, said it will continue to pursue the case. The decision adds to a series of legal setbacks for the White House’s efforts to pressure sanctuary jurisdictions, including separate lawsuits filed by more than 20 states challenging similar funding conditions.
Judge Blocks Trump From Cutting Money to LA, Chicago and Bay Area Cities Over ‘Sanctuary’ Policies https://t.co/f1K93nAMCM
A federal judge on Friday blocked the Trump administration from cutting off federal funding from dozens of "sanctuary" cities and counties — covering several of the largest cities in the U.S. https://t.co/i2hHJzbDJS
Judge blocks Trump admin from slashing ‘sanctuary city’ funding https://t.co/OMYnpz1lb8