Latest news with #sanctuarycities
Fox News
20 hours ago
- Politics
- Fox News
Federal judge halts Trump's plan to cut funding for sanctuary states that refuse to cooperate
A federal judge in Rhode Island issued a preliminary injunction on Thursday, blocking the Trump administration from denying federal transportation funds to states that do not cooperate with immigration enforcement authorities. Twenty Democratic-led states brought a lawsuit against President Donald Trump's administration, challenging a new Department of Transportation (DOT) policy of withholding or terminating federal funding to any state or local government that does not comply with immigration-enforcement policies. During Trump's first day in office, he issued a sweeping executive order that would deny federal funds to "so-called sanctuary jurisdictions." U.S. District Court Judge John J. McConnell Jr. issued the preliminary injunction against the Trump administration's efforts on Thursday, saying it is "unconstitutional and/or unlawful" because it violates the Administrative Procedure Act. McConnell also said the Trump administration's action is ultra vires – or done beyond one's legal authority – and exceeds Congress's powers under the Spending Clause. Under the preliminary injunction, the Trump administration is "prohibited from implementing or enforcing the Immigration Enforcement Condition as set forth in the Duffy Directive," McConnell wrote. He also said the defendants are "prohibited from withholding or terminating federal funding based on the Immigration Enforcement Condition as set forth in the Duffy Directive absent specific statutory authorization." "Defendants are prohibited from taking adverse action against any state entity or local jurisdiction, including barring it from receiving or making it ineligible for federal funding, based on the Immigration Enforcement Condition, absent specific statutory authorization," the ruling continued. "The Court forbids and enjoins any attempt to implement the Immigration Enforcement Condition, and any actions by the Defendants to implement or enforce the Immigration Enforcement Condition." Fox News Digital has reached out to the White House for comment on the matter. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, even this week, has warned "rogue state actors" who do not cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and federal immigration enforcement that they may be on the hook to clean up their own mess. Most recently, Duffy directed his comments toward California officials who have distanced themselves from immigration enforcement while riots and protests continue to break out in places like Los Angeles. Duffy has suggested political leaders work better with the Trump administration. "The USDOT will not fund rogue state actors who refuse to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement," Duffy said Monday. "And to cities that stand by while rioters destroy transportation infrastructure — don't expect a red cent from DOT, either." Duffy said in April that federal grants come with the obligation to adhere to federal law. "It shouldn't be controversial – enforce our immigration rules, end anti-American DEI policies, and protect free speech. These values reflect the priorities of the American people, and I will take action to ensure compliance," he said.
The Guardian
21 hours ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Judge blocks Trump plan to tie states' transportation funds to immigration enforcement
A federal judge on Thursday blocked Donald Trump's administration from forcing 20 Democratic-led states to cooperate with immigration enforcement in order to receive billions of dollars in transportation grant funding. Chief US District Judge John McConnell in Providence, Rhode Island, granted the states' request for an injunction barring the Department of Transportation's policy, saying the states were likely to succeed on the merits of some or all of their claims. The Trump administration did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The ruling came in a lawsuit filed by a group of Democratic state attorneys general who argued the administration was seeking to unlawfully hold federal funds hostage to coerce them into adhering to Trump's hardline immigration agenda. The states argued the US transportation secretary, Sean Duffy, lacked the authority to impose immigration-enforcement conditions on funding that Congress appropriated to help states sustain roads, highways, bridges and other transportation projects. Since returning to office on 20 January, Trump has signed several executive orders that have called for cutting off federal funding to so-called sanctuary jurisdictions that do not cooperate with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) as his administration has moved to conduct mass deportations. Sanctuary jurisdictions generally have laws and policies that limit or prevent local law enforcement from assisting federal officers with civil immigration arrests. The justice department has filed a series of lawsuits against such jurisdictions, including Illinois, New York and Colorado, challenging laws in those Democratic-led states that it says hinder federal immigration enforcement. The lawsuit before McConnell, who was appointed by Barack Obama, was filed after Duffy on 24 April notified states they could lose transportation funding if they do not cooperate with the enforcement of federal law, including with Ice in its efforts to enforce immigration law. The states argue that policy is improper and amounts to an unconstitutionally ambiguous condition on the states' ability to receive funding authorized by Congress as it leaves unclear what exactly would constitute adequate cooperation. The administration has argued the policy was within Duffy's discretion and that conditions should be upheld as there is nothing improper about requiring states to comply with federal law. The 20 states are separately pursuing a similar case also in Rhode Island challenging new immigration enforcement conditions that the homeland security department imposed on grant programs.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump doubles down on expanding deportations in America's biggest cities
President Donald Trump on Monday doubled down on his goal to conduct mass deportations in some of the country's biggest cities, specifically those run by Democrats. As he met with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney at the G7 summit in Alberta on Monday, Trump said Immigration and Customs Enforcement should turn its attention to New York and Chicago in addition to Los Angeles. "I want them to focus on the cities because the cities are where you really have what's called 'sanctuary cities,'" Trump told reporters. "And that's where the people are." MORE: 'Nation of immigrants and a nation of laws': Obama speaks out about immigration The comments came after Trump's lengthy social media post on Sunday in which said he was ordering ICE to do "all in their power" to oversee the largest mass deportation program in history. "In order to achieve this, we must expand efforts to detain and deport Illegal Aliens in America's largest Cities," Trump wrote. The president said those cities are "the core of the Democrat Power Center" and accused Democrats of using illegal immigration to influence elections -- despite the fact that noncitizens can't vote in federal or state elections and instances where it occurs are rare. He also claimed without evidence that illegal immigrants were being used to "grow the Welfare State." "To ICE, FBI, DEA, ATF, the Patriots at Pentagon and the State Department, you have my unwavering support. Now go, GET THE JOB DONE!" Trump wrote in the post. Trump's determination on deportations follows protests in LA and in other areas around the country last week to his administration's immigration crackdown. This past Saturday, immigration was one focus of nationwide "No Kings Day" demonstrations against Trump and his policies that drew thousands of people. MORE: Trump has made a number of claims about the LA protests. Here is the context. Amid the pushback, Trump last week shifted his stance on undocumented immigrants who work in the farming and hospitality industries. Trump acknowledged on social media that his "aggressive policy" was "taking very good, long time workers away." The Department of Homeland Security later confirmed they received new guidance to pause most raids on farms, restaurants and hotels. "Our farmers are being hurt badly, they have good workers that have worked for them for 20 years. They are not citizens, but turned out to be great. We will do something about that," Trump said at a White House event last week. Such comments undercut what he and his top officials have said would be a focus on the "worst of the worst" violent or criminal offenders in their deportation efforts. ABC News' Hannah Demissie contributed to this report. Trump doubles down on expanding deportations in America's biggest cities originally appeared on
Fox News
5 days ago
- Politics
- Fox News
GOP's Brandon Gill says sanctuary governors like Newsom should face arrest for 'obstructing' ICE
EXCLUSIVE: A first-term House GOP firebrand is arguing that state governors who run afoul of federal immigration laws should be arrested. "I think if they are openly flouting federal law and obstructing federal law enforcement, then that's something we should consider," Rep. Brandon Gill, R-Texas, told Fox News Digital Thursday. Gill's brief interview occurred on the sidelines of the House Oversight Committee's high-profile sanctuary state hearing with the Democratic governors of New York, Illinois and Minnesota. Outside Washington, meanwhile, rioters in Los Angeles have been facing off with law enforcement as California's Democratic leaders accuse the Trump administration of escalating violent tensions. President Donald Trump and his allies, in turn, claim Gov. Gavin Newsom and others are flouting federal immigration law, which Newsom has denied. Trump has called for Newsom to be arrested, a declaration Democrats have panned as authoritarian. But Gill suggested it was warranted if the progressive governor — or others like him — were found to have broken any laws. "I think if they're breaking the law, and they are obstructing federal law enforcement of federal immigration, then yes, they should be [arrested]," Gill said. "I don't think that we should be turning our cities into anarchic hellholes. And that's what's happening." A spokesperson for Newsom told Fox News Digital in response to Gill's comments, "Our state laws do not conflict with any federal law. Period. Full stop." It's a clash Newsom and Trump have seen before. In 2019, a federal court upheld the California Values Act, the state's sanctuary law, against a challenge from the Trump administration. But there's new legal back-and-forth over Trump's right to send the National Guard into Los Angeles over Newsom's objections. A federal judge ruled Thursday that Trump must return control of the California National Guard to Newsom, but an appeals court quickly reversed that decision. Gill's focus during the sanctuary state House Oversight Committee hearing was aimed at Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, who he accused of being lax about and even supportive of illegal immigration. He said Pritzker was in favor of "welcoming" illegal immigrants to the U.S., but the Illinois Democrat countered that he was referring to asylum seekers. At one point, Pritzker said he supported the need for federal immigration authorities, but Gill challenged him. "Your administration gave $12,000 to the Organized Communities Against Deportations, which just this past month was marching in the streets of Chicago with signs that say 'Abolish ICE,'" Gill said. "Is this a reflection of your moral values?" Gill asked. Pritzker replied, "I do not support abolishing an immigration force."
New York Times
13-06-2025
- Politics
- New York Times
At Debate, Cuomo Says Trump ‘Cannot Win a Fight' With Him on Immigration
The second debate in New York City's Democratic mayoral primary on Thursday began with the leading candidates jockeying to position themselves as liberal bulwarks against President Trump and his immigration crackdown. The president recently deployed military troops to California in response to protests against ICE raids in Los Angeles that have spread to other cities, including New York. Former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo vowed to defend the city's so-called sanctuary laws, predicting that Mr. Trump would not dare to send troops to New York, saying, 'He cannot win a fight with me as mayor of New York.' Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani spoke forcefully against the immigration arrests taking place in the city's federal immigration courts over the past few weeks, promising that under his mayoralty, the Police Department would not cooperate with federal immigration authorities. And Adrienne Adams noted how she had wielded her bully pulpit as speaker of the City Council to sue Mayor Eric Adams over his efforts to allow the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency to open offices at the Rikers Island jail complex. During one pointed exchange, Brad Lander, the city comptroller, challenged Mr. Cuomo's use of the term 'illegal immigrants' when talking about people hired to clean the subway. 'What did you call them?' Mr. Lander said, interrupting Mr. Cuomo, who changed course and used the term preferred among many Democrats, 'undocumented.' Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
