A federal judge in California has ruled that the Trump administration cannot deny federal funds to “sanctuary” jurisdictions. This decision came on Thursday from U.S. District Judge William Orrick, who found parts of President Trump’s executive orders unconstitutional. The ruling is a significant win for San Francisco and over a dozen other cities that limit their cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.
Judge Orrick issued an injunction that prevents the administration from taking any action to withhold or condition federal funds based on a jurisdiction’s immigration policies. He ordered that all federal departments and agencies must be informed of this ruling by Monday.
The judge’s decision follows a similar case from 2017, where he ruled against a previous Trump executive order that threatened to cut funding to sanctuary cities. Orrick emphasized that the fear of federal enforcement among these jurisdictions has only intensified since then.
The Trump administration had argued in court that it was premature to grant an injunction since no specific actions had yet been taken to withhold funds. However, Orrick dismissed this argument, noting the ongoing threats from the administration and the directives from Attorney General Pam Bondi and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem aimed at penalizing sanctuary policies.
Sanctuary cities, which generally limit cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), argue that such policies make their communities safer. They believe that immigrants are more likely to report crimes and cooperate with local law enforcement if they do not fear deportation.
The lawsuit includes San Francisco, Santa Clara County, and 13 other plaintiffs, including cities like Seattle, Portland, and Minneapolis. Following the ruling, local leaders expressed their relief, emphasizing the importance of maintaining trust between local governments and their communities.
Despite the ruling, there are concerns about whether federal agencies will comply. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy reminded recipients of federal transportation funding that they must adhere to federal law, including immigration enforcement, or face consequences.
The landscape of immigration policy continues to evolve, and the implications of this ruling will likely be felt across various jurisdictions as they navigate their relationships with federal authorities.