Judge Blocks Trump From Defunding 34 Sanctuary Cities

U.S. District Judge William Orrick, an Obama appointee, has extended a preliminary injunction blocking the Trump administration from withholding federal funds from sanctuary cities and counties that limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. The expanded ruling now protects over 30 additional jurisdictions, including major cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, Denver, Baltimore, and Columbus, safeguarding hundreds of millions of dollars in federal grants critical for community services. Orrick ruled that the administration's executive orders threatening to cut funding if localities do not conform to federal immigration policies constitute an unconstitutional coercive threat. The Trump administration has appealed the initial decision but did not oppose the expansion of the injunction to include more plaintiffs. Meanwhile, the administration has increased immigration enforcement efforts, including deploying the National Guard to some sanctuary cities and issuing fresh warnings to Democrat-led cities and states to abandon sanctuary policies. This legal battle represents a significant challenge to President Trump's immigration agenda, balancing federal immigration enforcement with local jurisdictions' rights and funding protections.