Federal Judge Halts Trump’s Plan to Defund Sanctuary Cities

President Trump’s fight to hold sanctuary cities accountable just hit another roadblock courtesy of an Obama-appointed federal judge. On Friday, U.S. District Judge William Orrick extended a nationwide injunction that prevents the Trump administration from cutting federal funds to more than 30 cities and counties that refuse to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement.

These so-called “sanctuary jurisdictions” including liberal strongholds like Los Angeles, Chicago, and Boston openly defy federal immigration law by shielding illegal immigrants from deportation. In response, Trump signed an executive order earlier this year, “Protecting the American People Against Invasion,” aiming to cut federal funding from these cities. The goal? Stop rewarding lawlessness with taxpayer dollars.

But Judge Orrick, appointed by Barack Obama in 2012, ruled that Trump's attempt to attach immigration enforcement conditions to federal grants was unconstitutional "coercion." Apparently, protecting American lives from unvetted illegal aliens is too harsh for the liberal judiciary.

Let’s be clear about what’s happening here:

• The Trump administration is trying to enforce federal immigration law.

• Sanctuary cities are refusing to comply, choosing illegal aliens over American citizens.

• Now, a partisan judge is blocking lawful consequences for that disobedience.

This isn’t about compassion. It’s about chaos. Sanctuary policies have already proven deadly. According to DHS data, over 2,000 detainer requests were declined by sanctuary jurisdictions in just one year, leading to over 500 additional crimes that could’ve been prevented.

President Trump has every right and duty to take action. His administration has filed lawsuits against major offenders like Los Angeles and New York City, arguing that their policies violate federal law and endanger public safety. These cities prohibit law enforcement from even inquiring about immigration status, essentially turning a blind eye to criminal behavior.

Trump said it best earlier this year. “No more Sanctuary Cities! They protect the Criminals, not the Victims. They are disgracing our Country, and are being mocked all over the World.”

He’s right. This is about restoring law and order, and putting the safety of American citizens first. The administration is expected to appeal the ruling, and it should. The American people overwhelmingly support tougher immigration enforcement. A 2023 poll found that 65% of voters support withholding federal funds from sanctuary cities.

This is yet another reminder of why the 2024 election matters. If the Democrats keep the courts packed with activist judges, the chaos will continue. Trump’s plan to defund lawless jurisdictions must move forward and he needs to be in the Oval Office to get it done.

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