A coalition of U.S. cities and counties, led by San Francisco and Santa Clara County, California, filed a federal lawsuit on Friday challenging President Donald Trump’s executive order targeting sanctuary jurisdictions.
The lawsuit, filed in California’s Northern District Court is accusing the Trump administration of unlawfully coercing local governments to comply with its immigration crackdown by threatening to withhold federal funds and prosecute officials.
President Trump’s Executive Order: Funding Cuts and Prosecution Threats
Donald Trump’s order, signed earlier this month, is aiming to deny sanctuary cities of federal grants if they refuse to assist Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) with deportations.
The lawsuit also targets memos from the Department of Justice (DOJ), including a February 5 directive by Attorney General Pam Bondi, urging prosecutors to investigate state and local leaders who “obstruct” federal immigration enforcement.
The US Cities Pushing Back Against DOJ Overreach
“This is the federal government coercing local officials to bend to their will or face defunding or prosecution. That is illegal and authoritarian,” a San Francisco City Attorney, David Chiu had said.
The lawsuit includes plaintiffs like Portland, Oregon; New Haven, Connecticut; and King County, Washington, arguing that Trump’s policies violate the 10th Amendment, which reserves non-delegated powers to states.
In response, DOJ spokesperson Gates McGavick stated, “Sanctuary jurisdictions are actively impeding law enforcement and prioritizing illegal aliens over their own citizens.” The DOJ’s stance follows its lawsuit against Illinois and Chicago—Democratic strongholds with laws limiting cooperation with ICE.
Why Cities are Defying Federal Immigration Enforcement
Sanctuary laws bar local police from aiding federal civil immigration raids. Advocates are also arguing that these policies encourage undocumented immigrants to report crimes without fear of deportation. Critics, including Trump, claim they shield criminals and undermine national security.
Can Donald Trump Withhold Federal Funding?
Courts have repeatedly ruled that the federal government cannot condition funding on unrelated policy mandates. In 2020, the Supreme Court blocked similar attempts to defund sanctuary cities, citing constitutional overreach.
With Trump vowing to escalate mass deportations if re-elected, this lawsuit sets the stage for a protracted legal fight over states’ rights and federal authority. Outcomes could reshape how sanctuary jurisdictions operate and access critical resources like law enforcement grants.
Also, federal judges in San Francisco and Chicago could issue injunctions blocking Trump’s order.
