A federal judge recently blocked the Trump administration from enforcing immigration cooperation requirements on 20 Democratic-led states in exchange for transportation grant funding. Chief US District Judge John McConnell in Providence, Rhode Island, granted an injunction requested by the states, citing their likelihood of success in challenging the Department of Transportation’s policy. The lawsuit, initiated by Democratic state attorneys general, argued that the administration was unlawfully using federal funds to pressure states into aligning with Trump’s strict immigration agenda.
The states contended that the US transportation secretary lacked the authority to impose immigration enforcement conditions on funds allocated by Congress for infrastructure projects. President Trump’s executive orders have targeted sanctuary jurisdictions that limit cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), prompting legal battles with states like Illinois, New York, and Colorado. The lawsuit in Rhode Island stemmed from a notice issued by the transportation secretary threatening funding cuts for non-compliance with immigration enforcement efforts.
The states argued that the policy was unconstitutional and lacked clarity on what constituted adequate cooperation. While the administration defended the policy as a valid condition for funding, Judge McConnell’s ruling favored the states’ stance. Concurrently, the 20 states are pursuing a similar case challenging immigration enforcement conditions imposed by the Department of Homeland Security on grant programs. This legal battle underscores the ongoing conflict between federal and state authorities on immigration policies and funding conditions.
