SAN FRANCISCO — A federal judge on Friday, August 22, 2025, blocked President Donald Trump’s administration from withholding federal funding from more than 30 sanctuary cities, including Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, and Baltimore, that limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. U.S. District Judge William Orrick, based in San Francisco, extended a preliminary injunction, ruling that Trump’s executive orders targeting these jurisdictions are unconstitutional, according to Reuters. The decision expands an April ruling that protected 16 other cities, like San Francisco and Seattle, from similar funding cuts.
Orrick stated, “That coercive threat is unconstitutional,” emphasizing that the orders unlawfully pressured cities to align with Trump’s immigration policies, per Reuters. The executive orders, signed in January and February, directed Attorney General Pam Bondi and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to withhold billions in federal grants from jurisdictions that refuse to assist Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The cities argued these funds, critical for public services, were at risk.
Key points of the ruling include:
- Expanded Protection: Covers 34 cities and counties, including Denver and Albuquerque.
- Legal Precedent: Builds on Orrick’s 2017 ruling against a similar Trump policy.
- Ongoing Appeal: The administration is challenging the April injunction.
The ruling follows Trump’s campaign pledge to deport millions of undocumented immigrants, with sanctuary policies seen as obstacles. In May, the Department of Homeland Security listed over 500 “sanctuary jurisdictions,” later retracting it after inaccuracies, per NBC News. Posts on X, like those from @Reuters, reflect public division, with some praising the decision as a win for local autonomy and others criticizing it as undermining immigration enforcement. The case highlights ongoing tensions over federal versus local authority as Trump’s immigration agenda faces legal hurdles.
Source: Reuters
