Judge blocks Trump from denying federal funds to ‘sanctuary’ cities that limit immigration cooperation

Federal Judge Blocks Trump Administration from Cutting Funds to Sanctuary Cities

WASHINGTON — A federal judge in California has issued a preliminary injunction preventing the Trump administration from denying federal funds to so-called “sanctuary” jurisdictions.

U.S. District Judge William Orrick ruled Thursday that the executive orders issued by the administration were unconstitutional, echoing a similar ruling he made in 2017 when former President Donald Trump attempted the same action.

The injunction was requested by San Francisco and more than a dozen other cities and counties. These municipalities challenged the Trump-era executive orders, which sought to withhold federal funding from local governments that limited cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.

Judge Orrick, who is based in San Francisco, stated in his ruling that the defendants are “restrained and enjoined from directly or indirectly taking any action to withhold, freeze, or condition federal funds” based on sanctuary policies. He also ordered that written notice of the ruling must be sent to all federal departments and agencies by Monday.