January 1, Judge Blocks Trump Bid To Defund Sanctuary Cities

Wyatt’s Take

• A judge appointed by Obama stopped Trump from cutting federal money to sanctuary cities.
• The ruling covers over 30 cities and blocks new rules tying funds to immigration enforcement.
• Trump is expected to fight the decision in court.

A federal judge chosen by Barack Obama has ruled that President Trump can’t withhold federal money from sanctuary cities across America.

The ruling stops the Trump administration from adding immigration demands to grants or pulling funds from cities that limit help for immigration agents.

More than 30 cities, like Los Angeles, Baltimore, Boston, and Chicago, are shielded by this decision.

The judge also blocked the administration from forcing new rules on two major grant programs over immigration policy.

He said Trump’s move to tie funding to immigration rules was unconstitutional pressure on local leaders.

Back in January, Trump signed an executive order to redirect money away from sanctuary cities to keep his campaign promise. The order tells government agencies to withhold money from localities that refuse to fully help enforce immigration law.

Trump’s team has also sued cities like Los Angeles and New York for refusing to help federal immigration agents, claiming their local rules break federal law.

President Trump has called sanctuary city policies a danger to Americans, saying they defend criminals over law-abiding citizens.

“No more Sanctuary Cities! They protect the Criminals, not the Victims. They are disgracing our Country, and are being mocked all over the World,” Trump posted in April. “Working on papers to withhold all Federal Funding for any City or State that allows these Death Traps to exist!!!”

The Trump administration plans to challenge the judge’s decision.

Read more

Wyatt Matters

This decision lets big-city leaders ignore federal immigration law but still take money from taxpayers in places like ours. It’s another example of why so many in the heartland feel left behind by judges and politicians who don’t put American safety and values first.