Cities

Federal Judge Rules Against Trump: No Withholding Funds from Sanctuary Cities

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In a significant ruling, a federal judge declared that former President Donald Trump’s administration cannot withhold federal funds from cities that adopt “sanctuary” policies to protect undocumented immigrants. The decision, issued on Tuesday, is a setback to Trump’s broader immigration crackdown which sought to penalize jurisdictions that do not cooperate with federal immigration enforcement. The judge’s ruling emphasizes that the federal government’s powers do not extend to forcing local governments to adopt federal priorities, specifically in matters of immigration enforcement. This stance supports the argument that local jurisdictions have the right to decide their own … Read more

Federal Judge Blocks Trump Administration from Withholding Funds to Sanctuary Cities

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San Francisco, California – A federal judge in California issued a ruling on Thursday that prohibits the Trump administration from withholding federal funds from so-called “sanctuary” cities. This decision reasserts the constitutional challenges faced by executive orders aimed at punishing jurisdictions that limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. Judge William Orrick of San Francisco granted a preliminary injunction against the administration, echoing his similar judgment from 2017. The ruling stemmed from lawsuits filed by San Francisco and over a dozen other cities. These municipalities challenged the legality of several executive orders signed by the Republican … Read more

Charlottesville Environmental Group Leads Legal Battle Against Federal Fund Freeze Impacting Multiple Cities and Nonprofits

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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — An environmental legal group headquartered in Virginia has launched a lawsuit against the current administration for halting federal environmental funding that multiple cities and nonprofit organizations depend on. The Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC), which represents these groups, argues that the action to freeze these funds contradicts congressional directives. The SELC’s litigation efforts include representation for a diverse group of stakeholders, ranging from environmental initiatives like the Alliance for Shenandoah and the Sustainability Institute to city governments such as Baltimore and Nashville. These entities have historically relied on federal support to manage … Read more

U.S. Cities Band Together in Major Lawsuit to Protect Sanctuary Status Against Federal Funding Threats

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Several cities and counties across the United States, prominently including locales from the Bay Area, have escalated legal action against a presidential executive order that threatens to strip federal funds from so-called sanctuary jurisdictions. These areas, which have enacted policies to not fully cooperate with federal immigration enforcement, are part of a growing legal challenge led by Santa Clara County and San Francisco. Filed initially on February 7 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, the litigation seeks to prevent the enforcement of the executive order. The legal battle intensified last … Read more