Judge Bars Trump’s Order Cutting Funds to ‘Sanctuary’ Cities/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ A judge bars Trump from cutting funds to sanctuary cities. The ruling declares his executive orders unconstitutional. Major cities like San Francisco and Seattle are among the plaintiffs.
Judge Blocks Trump’s Effort to Cut Federal Funding to Sanctuary Cities — Quick Looks
- Court Ruling: A federal judge ruled that Trump’s order to withhold federal funds from sanctuary cities is unconstitutional.
- Executive Orders Challenged: The decision targets two Trump orders aimed at penalizing jurisdictions limiting immigration cooperation.
- Nationwide Impact: The ruling applies to over a dozen municipalities, including San Francisco, Portland, and Seattle.
- Fear of Enforcement: The judge cited past actions and government directives that create a credible fear of funding loss.
- Legal Precedent: The case echoes a successful 2017 challenge by San Francisco against a similar Trump directive.
- What’s Next: The administration must inform all federal agencies of the ruling by Monday.
Judge Halts Trump’s Push to Strip Federal Funds from Sanctuary Cities
Deep Looks
April 24, 2025 | A federal judge in California has barred the Trump administration from denying federal funds to so-called “sanctuary cities” — jurisdictions that limit their cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.
U.S. District Judge William Orrick issued a nationwide injunction Thursday, ruling that two executive orders signed by President Donald Trump violate the Constitution by seeking to punish cities that do not fully collaborate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The injunction, sought by San Francisco, Santa Clara County, and more than a dozen other local governments, blocks federal agencies from freezing, withholding, or conditioning funds based on local immigration policies.
“Their well-founded fear of enforcement is even stronger than it was in 2017,” Orrick wrote, referencing similar executive actions during Trump’s first term. The ruling requires the administration to notify all federal agencies of the court’s decision by Monday.
Executive Orders Under Fire
Trump’s orders directed Attorney General Pam Bondi and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to withhold federal dollars from jurisdictions that implement sanctuary policies. Another order instructed every federal agency to review grants to local governments and cut off any funding that could “abet” noncompliance with federal immigration law.
Justice Department attorneys argued on Wednesday that no funds had yet been withheld, and therefore, the injunction was premature. But the judge disagreed, citing previous federal lawsuits targeting cities like Chicago and New York and directives issued by Bondi and other departments.
A Familiar Legal Battle
This isn’t the first time the Trump administration has clashed with sanctuary jurisdictions. In 2017, Trump issued a similar order, which San Francisco also challenged in court. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the lower court’s ruling that the president had overstepped his authority.
Judge Orrick, an Obama appointee and former Army legal officer, wrote that the plaintiffs had a reasonable basis to fear enforcement of Trump’s current order based on past behavior and recent directives.
What Are Sanctuary Cities?
Sanctuary cities limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement by, for example, refusing to detain individuals solely based on ICE requests unless a court order is issued. ICE relies on local law enforcement to help identify, detain, and transfer individuals targeted for deportation.
Supporters of sanctuary policies say these laws build trust within immigrant communities, allowing residents to report crimes and cooperate with police without fear of deportation. Critics argue they hinder federal immigration efforts and compromise public safety.
Cities Suing Trump Over Sanctuary Threat
The ruling applies to 16 plaintiffs, including:
- San Francisco, Santa Clara County, and San José, California
- Seattle and King County, Washington
- Portland, Oregon
- Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota
- New Haven, Connecticut
- Santa Fe, New Mexico
Local leaders celebrated the decision as a victory for community safety and constitutional rights. “This ruling confirms what we’ve said all along — federal bullying won’t stop cities from doing what’s right,” said San Francisco Mayor London Breed.
The administration has not yet announced whether it will appeal the decision.
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