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20 States Sue Trump Administration Over Federal Funding Conditions Tied to Immigration Enforcement

The lawsuits challenge the legality of withholding disaster relief and transportation funds from states that do not comply with federal immigration policies.

U.S. President Donald Trump makes an announcement about a trade deal with the U.K., in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 8, 2025. REUTERS/Leah Millis/File Photo
President Donald Trump answers a reporter's question during an event in the Roosevelt Room at the White House, Monday.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem testifies before a House Appropriations subcommittee earlier this month.
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Overview

  • A coalition of 20 Democratic-led states filed two federal lawsuits on May 13, 2025, seeking to block the Trump administration from attaching immigration enforcement conditions to billions in federal grants.
  • The lawsuits argue that the administration is violating the U.S. Constitution by imposing conditions on funding that Congress appropriated without such requirements, claiming this oversteps executive authority.
  • The Department of Homeland Security and Department of Transportation directives threaten funding for emergency preparedness, disaster relief, and critical infrastructure projects in non-compliant states.
  • The Trump administration defends the directives, asserting that jurisdictions refusing to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement should not receive federal funding.
  • State attorneys general warn that the threatened funding cuts could undermine disaster response, public safety, and infrastructure projects, posing imminent risks to their communities.