California, 19 States Sue Trump Over Immigration-Tied Federal Grants

California Attorney General Rob Bonta, along with a coalition of 19 other Democratic states including New York and Minnesota, has filed lawsuits challenging the Trump administration's policy of conditioning billions of dollars in federal transportation, counter-terrorism, and emergency preparedness grants on state cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. The lawsuits argue that this policy violates the U.S. Constitution's Spending Clause by coercing states and exceeding the executive branch's authority, as Congress holds the power to allocate federal funds. The states contend that critical infrastructure funding, intended for roads, airports, and public safety, has no connection to immigration enforcement and should not be used as leverage to enforce immigration policies. The Trump administration defends the policy as necessary to ensure states do not obstruct federal immigration efforts, while state officials criticize it as an illegal attempt to bully states with sanctuary policies. California is also pursuing a separate legal challenge against President Trump's tariff policies, arguing that the tariffs exceed his authority and harm the state's economy. These coordinated legal efforts underscore the ongoing tensions between state governments and the federal administration over immigration enforcement and economic policy.