Chelsea, Somerville Sue Trump Over Sanctuary City Orders

The cities of Chelsea and Somerville in Massachusetts have filed a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration, challenging executive orders that threaten to withdraw federal funding from sanctuary cities unless they comply with federal immigration enforcement. These cities, which have significant immigrant populations, argue that being sanctuary cities helps maintain public safety by encouraging cooperation with local police without fear of deportation. The lawsuit, supported by Lawyers for Civil Rights, seeks to have these executive orders declared unconstitutional, emphasizing that the use of federal funding as a coercive tool violates state and local rights. Somerville has been a sanctuary city since 1987, while Chelsea adopted the status in 2007, both resisting federal pressure to change their policies. The case highlights the broader resistance from sanctuary cities nationwide against federal immigration policies and their potential impact on community safety and federal funding reliance. Mayor Katjana Ballantyne of Somerville stated that the lawsuit defends constitutional rights and local autonomy against federal overreach.