Trump can't require states to cooperate with ICE to get DOT funding, judge says

Democratic governors connected "sanctuary" policies

Democratic governors attest astatine proceeding connected "sanctuary" policies, immigration 03:06

A national justice connected Thursday blocked the Trump medication from requiring astir 2 twelve mostly Democratic states to cooperate with national migration authorities successful bid to person billions successful proscription funding.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned successful April his section whitethorn chopped disconnected grants to immoderate recipients that neglect to "cooperate mostly with Federal authorities successful the enforcement of Federal law" — portion of a wider gambit to propulsion backmost against "sanctuary" jurisdictions. 

A radical of 20 states sued, arguing the medication doesn't person the ineligible authorization to necktie proscription dollars — which states trust connected for upkeep of roads, airports and different infrastructure — to migration enforcement.

U.S. District Judge John McConnell sided with the 20 plaintiff states connected Thursday, issuing a preliminary injunction that barred the authorities from enforcing the caller migration rules for "the States and their governmental subdivisions" portion the suit works its mode done court.

The policy, McConnell wrote, "is arbitrary and capricious successful its scope and lacks specificity successful however the States are to cooperate connected migration enforcement successful speech for Congressionally appropriated proscription dollars — assistance wealth that the States trust connected to support their residents safely and efficiently connected the road, successful the sky, and connected the rails."

The Rhode Island justice added that "Congress did not authorize oregon assistance authorization to the Secretary of Transportation to enforce migration enforcement conditions connected national dollars specifically appropriated for proscription purposes."

California Attorney General Rob Bonta, whose authorities was 1 of the 20 plaintiffs, lauded the determination successful a statement, saying President Trump has tried to "coerce authorities and section governments into doing his bidding."

"President Trump is threatening to withhold captious proscription funds unless states hold to transportation retired his inhumane and illogical migration docket for him. He is treating these funds – funds that spell toward improving our roads and keeping our planes successful the aerial – arsenic a bargaining chip," Bonta wrote.

CBS News has reached retired to the White House and Department of Transportation for comment.

The Trump medication has threatened to chopped off immoderate national backing to "sanctuary" jurisdictions, or cities and states that bounds section constabulary from cooperating with national migration authorities. The medication argues these policies marque it harder for agencies similar Immigration and Customs Enforcement to apprehend undocumented immigrants, including those with transgression records. But immoderate jurisdictions accidental that if section constabulary are forced to cooperate with ICE, immigrants whitethorn beryllium little apt to spot police.

In April, a national justice successful San Francisco blocked the Trump medication from enforcing enforcement orders threatening to propulsion funds from "sanctuary cities."

Duffy wrote connected X earlier this week that his section "will NOT money rogue authorities actors who garbage to cooperate with national migration enforcement."

"And to cities that basal by portion rioters destruct proscription infrastructure — don't expect a reddish cent from DOT, either. Follow the law, oregon forfeit the funding," Duffy added, apt referring to protests against ICE successful Los Angeles and different cities.

• United States Department of Transportation
• sanctuary cities
• Trump Administration