20 States Sue Trump Admin Over Immigration Fund Rules

A coalition of 20 Democratic attorneys general from states including California, Washington, Maryland, New York, Nevada, and Rhode Island has filed two federal lawsuits against the Trump administration over new requirements tying billions in federal disaster relief and transportation funding to state cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. The lawsuits specifically name Secretaries Kristi Noem and Sean Duffy of the Departments of Homeland Security and Transportation, alleging the agencies are unlawfully imposing conditions on funding that exceed their legal authority. The states argue these requirements violate the Constitution’s Spending Clause, which reserves control of federal appropriations to Congress. The Trump administration defends the policy as necessary to uphold immigration laws, stating non-cooperative states should not receive federal funds. Critics warn that withholding these funds could undermine public safety and disaster preparedness, forcing states to choose between vital services and compliance with immigration demands. Federal courts have previously blocked similar efforts, and the new lawsuits seek to prevent further funding cutoffs.