Federal Judge Blocks Trump’s Plan to Cut Funding for Sanctuary Cities
A federal judge has halted U.S. President Donald Trump’s initiative to withhold federal funds from over 30 “sanctuary” cities, including major metropolitan areas such as Chicago, Los Angeles, and Denver, reports 24brussels.
Judge William Orrick of San Francisco issued a preliminary injunction preventing the implementation of Trump’s controversial policy aimed at penalizing jurisdictions that resist the administration’s stringent immigration measures enforced by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This ruling ensures that cities like Boston, Santa Fe, Portland, Oakland, Sacramento, and San Diego will retain their federal funding, with the judge asserting that the proposed funding cuts would be unconstitutional.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) had previously identified more than 500 “sanctuary jurisdictions,” signaling its intention to formally notify these locations of their non-compliance with federal immigration regulations. This ruling marks the second significant legal defeat for Trump in just 24 hours, following a separate court order in Florida mandating the closure of the ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ detention facility within 60 days, prohibiting further migrant transfers to the site.
Civil rights organizations in Florida have raised alarms over the “horrible conditions” still present for migrants at the detention center, despite the court’s order. This ongoing situation highlights the challenges within the U.S. immigration system and the significant opposition faced by the Trump administration’s policies.
This recent ruling reflects a consistent pattern in which Judge Orrick has challenged Trump’s immigration policies. In 2017, he ruled against the administration’s initial efforts to cut funds to so-called sanctuary cities, deeming such measures unconstitutional and a violation of the separation of powers.
