Wednesday a federal appeals court ruled the Trump administration can withhold money from sanctuary cities. This gives the president and the rule of law a significant victory. The case was heard in the Second Circuit Court of Appeals this week.
The Second Circuit’s territory comprises the states of Connecticut, New York, and Vermont. The DoJ has been in court about his crackdown on illegal immigration.
The ruling by the Second Circuit Court of Appeals overturns a district court ruling. The lower court said Justice Department cannot impose conditions related to immigration law on funding. A group of seven states joined New York City in the lawsuit against the DOJ. They brought suit after the Justice Department announced plans to withhold money. Those affected were refusing to share information on criminal illegal aliens. The administration sees this as refusal to comply with grant terms.
The states bringing suit are: New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Washington, Massachusetts and Virginia. They argue that the move to impose conditions on the funding was “unconstitutional.” They lost because: “Congress makes clear that a grant applicant demonstrates qualification by satisfying statutory requirements in such form and according to such rules as the Attorney General establishes…” according to the court’s opinion.
The fat lady is not singing yet…
This is a battle in the war on the administration. Law-abiding Americans should celebrate this decision. It brings pressure on jurisdictions to cooperate in taking known criminals, felons, off the street. Then Attorney General Jeff Sessions made the announcement. He said the Trump administration would be withholding funds from sanctuary cities in 2017.
This is a blow to Democrat hopes of creating a lawless area without borders. This gives the DOJ the green light to withhold federal money from sanctuary cities. There is little doubt these lawless Democrat states will appeal. It costs tax payers. It harms tax payers. They will continue legal action until they are removed from office. The ball is in voters’ court. Do you like safe streets or do you prefer lawlessness?
Impacted jurisdictions
It’s likely to affect de Blasio and Cuomo. New York City made it illegal to say the words “illegal alien” in a “hateful” way. So we are supposed to say illegal alien only in a loving way, which is as interpreted by whom? Can you say free speech violation? It’s a blow to former Nashville Mayor David Briley. The Democrat released a Spanish-language tutorial. The mayor felt compelled to provide instruction on how illegals can avoid ICE agents. Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf has done the same. It will also have an impact on politicians in San Jose. There sanctuary city policies allowed a previously deported illegal immigrant to murder of a 59-year-old woman.
Thomas Homan is a former ICE chief under Presidents Obama and Trump. He felt strongly enough to go on the record. He says lawmakers who aid and abet criminal illegal aliens need to face their own court proceedings. “We’ve got to take [sanctuary cities] to court, and we’ve got to start charging some of these politicians with crimes…” he said. Well, for today, chalk up another win for Trump. The federal appeals court ruled the Trump administration can withhold money from sanctuary cities. We are all a little safer, at least we soon will be.
