Yet another legal battle is brewing between California and the Trump administration, this time over its threat to withhold billions in transportation and disaster relief funding unless states comply with the president’s immigration directives.
The attorneys general of 20 states, including California, filed two lawsuits in a Rhode Island federal court on Tuesday. It comes after a February letter from Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem threatened to cut funding to states that hamper immigration enforcement.
No money has actually been withheld yet, but $35 billion in federal grants could be at “imminent” risk in California, according to state Attorney General Rob Bonta.
“These are funds that the federal government has because of the taxes paid to it by states like California,” Bonta said. “Let's be clear: the president doesn't have the authority to coerce state and local governments into using their resources for immigration enforcement.”
The lawsuits claim the Trump administration’s actions are unconstitutional because Congress, not the president, controls federal spending authorizations.
“These actions are unlawful and ignore Congress' decisions and Congress' power,” Bonta said. “Congress, of course, is a co-equal branch of government.”
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California has filed 22 lawsuits to stop Trump administration policies in just 16 weeks – more than any other state.
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