Cities and Counties Sue Trump Administration Over Sanctuary City Crackdown
A coalition of U.S. cities and counties filed a lawsuit on Friday challenging President Donald Trump's executive order that seeks to force so-called sanctuary jurisdictions to cooperate with his immigration crackdown and mass deportations.
The lawsuit, filed in California federal court, argues that the Trump administration is unlawfully trying to force local officials to cooperate by threatening them with a loss of funding and prosecution.
"This is the federal government coercing local officials to bend to their will or face defunding or prosecution," said San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu, a Democrat. "That is illegal and authoritarian."
Other local governments that joined the lawsuit include Portland, Oregon; New Haven, Connecticut; and King County, Washington.
The lawsuit comes a day after the U.S. Department of Justice sued the state of Illinois and city of Chicago, alleging the Democratic strongholds were unlawfully interfering with Trump's crackdown and seeking a court order blocking so-called sanctuary laws.
Supporters of such laws have said that cooperation with federal immigration enforcement would discourage immigrants who are living in the country illegally from coming forward as victims or witnesses to crimes.
Friday's lawsuit challenges an executive order Trump signed that threatened to cut off federal funding to sanctuary jurisdictions that limit or refuse to cooperate with federal immigration law enforcement, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The lawsuit also challenges memos from the Department of Justice, including one on February 5 from newly confirmed U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, that instructed prosecutors to investigate state and local officials who impede or obstruct immigration enforcement.
In a statement, Justice Department spokesperson Gates McGavick said "the days of flouting federal law without consequence ended the second President Trump was sworn back into office."
"Sanctuary jurisdictions are actively impeding law enforcement and prioritizing illegal aliens over their own citizens," McGavick said.
5 Comments
Karamba
“Imposing local policies that defy federal law isn’t protecting communities—it’s endangering them. Kudos to the administration for taking a stand.”
Matzomaster
“Trump’s order was a necessary reminder that no level of government is above the law. Sanctuary policies have to end.”
Rotfront
“The executive order is an overreach that tramples on local control and community values. Support the lawsuit!”
ArtemK
“Sanctuary cities are protecting vulnerable communities. The federal government’s coercion is straight out of an authoritarian playbook.”
Marishka
“If sanctuary cities are obstructing law enforcement, then they deserve the consequences. The executive order is a necessary step.”