Federal Judge Blocks Trump Administration’s Funding Cuts to ‘Sanctuary‘ States
PROVIDENCE, RI – A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order Tuesday, halting the Trump administration’s plan to withhold disaster relief adn anti-terrorism funding from states wiht policies limiting cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. The move comes after a lawsuit filed Monday by California and 10 other states, alongside the District of Columbia, alleging the cuts illegally cost them hundreds of millions of dollars.
U.S. District Judge Mary S. McElroy granted the order during an emergency hearing in Rhode Island District Court, responding to claims that the administration was improperly leveraging federal funds to compel states to assist with immigration enforcement. States were first notified of the funding reductions over the weekend.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta hailed the decision as a significant victory, characterizing it as the latest in a series of legal challenges successfully pushing back against what he termed the Trump administration’s “unlawful, funding-related power grabs.”
“The courts have repeatedly rejected the Trump Administration’s attempts to illegally tie unrelated grant funding to state policies,” Bonta stated. “this is a matter of fundamental state sovereignty, a concept apparently lost on an administration with a history of constitutional overreach.”
The lawsuit details how the funding in question – allocated to prepare for, respond to, and recover from catastrophic disasters – has historically been distributed equitably across states, irrespective of their immigration policies. Authorized by Congress following events like 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina, the funds support critical infrastructure including first responder salaries, cybersecurity measures, and interstate emergency response compacts.
According to Bonta’s office, California was informed it would receive $110 million rather of the expected $165 million – a roughly 33% reduction. Other states saw even more significant cuts,with Illinois facing a 69% reduction and New York a 79% reduction,while states perceived as supportive of the administration saw funding increases.
The states argue the administration’s reallocation of funds based on immigration compliance is not only illegal but also jeopardizes public safety nationwide. “California uses this funding to protect our communities from terrorism and disasters – the stakes are literally life and death,” Bonta emphasized.”This isn’t
