The State of New York and other sanctuary jurisdictions won a lawsuit against the Trump administration over public safety funding.
Last year, President Donald Trump signed an executive order declaring that sanctuary jurisdictions not eligible to receive federal grants. To comply with the president’s order, the U.S. Department Justice (DOJ) imposed new immigration-related conditions on Byrne JAG funding. The DOJ threatened to withhold the funds for states and cities that adopt so-called sanctuary policies.
Earlier this year, New York Attorney General Barbara Underwood led a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s attempt to punish sanctuary jurisdictions.
DOJ’s immigration-related conditions on Byrne JAG funding are unlawful
On Friday, U.S. District Court Judge Edgardo Ramos for the Southern District of New York ruled against that the Trump administration. In his ruling, the judge concluded that the Justice Department and Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker “did not have lawful authority” to implement the conditions on Byrne JAG funding.
