Trump Scores Major Win in Court Approval to Block Federal Funds to Sanctuary Localities

Much to the chagrin of the radical left, President Trump just scored a major victory on immigration that could have major political effects and ramifications. The Trump administration has just been given the green light to aggressively withhold millions of dollars in law enforcement grants to lawless states around the nation who refuse to comply with U.S. immigration enforcement.

This comes from a ruling by a federal appeals court in New York of all places. The decision by the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan struck down a lower court’s ruling against Trump. The original ruling ordered the Trump administration to release funds being withheld from New York City and seven states, including New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, Washington, Massachusetts, Virginia, and Rhode Island.

Originally, those lawless localities have sued the Trump administration for the right to wantonly disregard the law and refuse to work with federal immigration agents after the DOJ announced its original plan in 2017 to hold money from localities. Back then Jeff Sessions was the AG and was fully supportive of the plan. LA Times reported:

At the time, then-Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions said: “So-called ‘sanctuary’ policies make all of us less safe because they intentionally undermine our laws and protect illegal aliens who have committed crimes.”

The 2nd Circuit said the plain language of relevant laws make clear that the U.S. attorney general can impose conditions on states and municipalities receiving money.

And it noted that the U.S. Supreme Court has repeatedly observed that the federal government maintains broad power over states when it comes to immigration policies.

In the past two years, federal appeals courts in Chicago, Philadelphia and San Francisco have ruled against the federal government by upholding lower-court injunctions placed on the enforcement of some or all of the challenged conditions.

The appeals rulings pertain to the issuance of the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program.

Created in 2006, it is the vehicle through which Congress annually dispenses over $250 million in federal funding for state and local criminal justice efforts.

The Byrne Program was named for New York City Police Officer Edward Byrne, who at age 22 was shot to death while guarding the home of a Guyanese immigrant cooperating with authorities investigating drug trafficking