The Trump administration cannot withhold billions of dollars in transportation grant funding from Democratic-led states refusing to cooperate with immigration enforcement, according to a ruling on Thursday.
Chief U.S. District Judge John McConnell in Providence, R.I., granted a preliminary injunction in the case filed by 20 states, saying “large-scale irreparable harm would occur without the preliminary injunction.”
The ruling comes ahead of a June 20 grant application deadline for states. Prior to that deadline, Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy imposed conditions on that funding, requiring applications to agree to adhere to an Immigration Enforcement Condition upon submission.
I’m glad this was the ruling. But will it stand up to appeal? In the 80s federal funding for highways was withheld unless the state complied with the new minimum age for drinking alcohol.
Edit: it was only 10% of the allocated funds, so maybe there is a chance
That is legislation passed by congress. Congress, per the Constitution, has the power of the purse. They decide what federal funds are used for and can put whatever restriction they want on those funds. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is not granted any such authority by the Constitution and neither is the President.