Federal Judge Blocks Trump Plan to Link Transportation Funds to Immigration Enforcement -RT
Quote from Lawyer on June 20, 2025, 11:33 amA federal judge has blocked President Donald Trump's administration from enforcing a policy that would require 20 Democratic-led states to cooperate with immigration enforcement to access billions in transportation grant funding. Chief U.S. District Judge John McConnell in Providence, Rhode Island, granted an injunction, ruling that the states are likely to succeed in their claims that the policy lacks legal authority and violates constitutional principles.
The lawsuit, led by California and supported by 19 other states, argued that U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy overstepped his authority by imposing immigration-related conditions on congressionally appropriated funds for infrastructure projects like highways, bridges, and ports. During a hearing, McConnell questioned the Department of Transportation’s power to enforce such a policy, suggesting it could set a precedent for restricting funds based on unrelated issues, such as state abortion laws.
The states claimed the policy was an attempt to coerce them into supporting Trump’s immigration agenda, including mass deportations, by holding critical infrastructure funding hostage. McConnell’s ruling halts the policy ahead of a Friday deadline for states to apply for certain Department of Transportation grants. The Trump administration has not yet responded to requests for comment.
This decision follows a pattern of judicial resistance to Trump’s immigration policies, with courts previously blocking actions like withholding funds from sanctuary cities and revoking birthright citizenship. The case, State of California v. United States Department of Transportation, remains ongoing in the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island.
A federal judge has blocked President Donald Trump's administration from enforcing a policy that would require 20 Democratic-led states to cooperate with immigration enforcement to access billions in transportation grant funding. Chief U.S. District Judge John McConnell in Providence, Rhode Island, granted an injunction, ruling that the states are likely to succeed in their claims that the policy lacks legal authority and violates constitutional principles.
The lawsuit, led by California and supported by 19 other states, argued that U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy overstepped his authority by imposing immigration-related conditions on congressionally appropriated funds for infrastructure projects like highways, bridges, and ports. During a hearing, McConnell questioned the Department of Transportation’s power to enforce such a policy, suggesting it could set a precedent for restricting funds based on unrelated issues, such as state abortion laws.
The states claimed the policy was an attempt to coerce them into supporting Trump’s immigration agenda, including mass deportations, by holding critical infrastructure funding hostage. McConnell’s ruling halts the policy ahead of a Friday deadline for states to apply for certain Department of Transportation grants. The Trump administration has not yet responded to requests for comment.
This decision follows a pattern of judicial resistance to Trump’s immigration policies, with courts previously blocking actions like withholding funds from sanctuary cities and revoking birthright citizenship. The case, State of California v. United States Department of Transportation, remains ongoing in the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island.