In brief
In a significant ruling, U.S. District Judge Mary McElroy has blocked the Trump administration's attempt to redirect federal Homeland Security funding from states labeled as 'sanctuary' jurisdictions. The decision comes after a coalition of 12 state attorneys general sued, emphasizing that the funding reductions of over $233 million from states like New York, Massachusetts, and Connecticut were arbitrary and threatened vital counterterrorism and law enforcement programs. The ruling mandates the restoration of funding outlined in a federal program designed to aid public safety efforts.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration’s attempt to reallocate federal Homeland Security funding away from states that refuse to cooperate with certain federal immigration enforcement. U.S. District Judge Mary McElroy's ruling solidifies a win for a coalition of 12 attorneys general who had filed a lawsuit against the administration after learning that their states would face drastic reductions in federal grants due to their 'sanctuary' statuses. In total, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency reduced more than $233 million from Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington. This funding is part of a $1 billion program meant to allocate resources based on assessed risks. The funding cut was announced shortly after another federal judge ruled that requiring states to assist with immigration enforcement in order to receive FEMA disaster funding was unconstitutional. McElroy’s ruling found that the government’s decision to withhold homeland security funds based on states’ immigration policies was arbitrary and unjustified. Judge McElroy noted the significance of the federal funding, which supports essential law enforcement and counterterrorism initiatives. She criticized the decision to cut funding, describing it as a 'wanton abuse' of federal grant administration. The judge specifically referenced the recent tragic shooting at Brown University as an event demonstrating the critical need for this funding. This ruling reinstates the previous allocations, ensuring that the Trump Administration cannot penalize states for their stances on immigration enforcement, a move praised by Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell.
