Judge Blocks Trump's Immigration Conditions Tied to Transportation Grants
A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration's attempt to condition transportation grants on immigration enforcement cooperation from 20 Democratic states. The ruling followed a lawsuit by state attorneys general, challenging the legality of such conditions imposed by U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.
In a significant legal decision on Thursday, a federal judge ruled against the Trump administration's policy of linking transportation grant funding to states' cooperation with immigration enforcement. Chief U.S. District Judge John McConnell in Providence, Rhode Island, granted an injunction in favor of 20 Democratic-led states, arguing their claims were likely to succeed.
The lawsuit, initiated by a consortium of state attorneys general, asserted that the administration was attempting to improperly leverage federal funds to compel adherence to strict immigration policies. The states contended that U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy was overstepping his authority by attaching immigration enforcement conditions to Congress-allocated transportation funds.
This ruling follows a pattern of opposition from sanctuary jurisdictions, which resist federal immigration arrests, against the Justice Department's legal challenges. The judge, appointed by President Barack Obama, emphasized the administration's failure to clearly define cooperation standards, sparking a broader legal debate.
(With inputs from agencies.)
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