Federal agents detain a person after attending a court hearing at immigration court at the Jacob K. Javitz Federal Building on July 1 in New York City, New York.
Twenty U.S. states, along with Washington, D.C., filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, accusing it of withholding millions of dollars intended for crime victims to pressure states into cooperating with federal immigration enforcement.
All the states involved have Democratic attorneys general and are asking the courts to strike down the Justice Department’s conditions for receiving the funds, which help cover medical bills, funeral costs, emergency shelters, legal aid, and counseling.
The lawsuit is part of an ongoing conflict over the administration’s immigration policies, which aim to dismantle state and local “sanctuary” protections. Illinois, New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles are among the jurisdictions targeted.
