San Diego, CA – San Diego has officially joined a growing legal fight against the Trump administration, claiming unlawful targeting of “sanctuary” cities nationwide. On February 27, San Diego became the 16th jurisdiction to join a lawsuit alongside San Francisco, Santa Clara, San Jose, Oakland, and several other cities.
City Attorney Heather Ferbert expressed concerns about the implications of the federal government withholding essential Department of Justice funding from cities that comply with state law. “The fact that we comply with state law should not be a reason to withhold essential Department of Justice funding that is here really to keep our public safe,” Ferbert stated. The lawsuit challenges the Trump administration’s threats to cut federal funding due to compliance with California’s 2017 Senate Bill 54, which restricts local jurisdictions from cooperating with federal immigration enforcement.
Crucially, the cities involved in the lawsuit are not contesting the legality of Senate Bill 54 itself; instead, they argue that President Trump’s threats to cut federal funds are unconstitutional. The lawsuit asserts that the president must seek congressional approval before deferring or rescinding funds. Ferbert highlighted that such threats could hinder local police departments’ ability to focus on public safety responsibilities.
“While San Diego isn’t a sanctuary city, it is a welcoming city,” Ferbert noted, emphasizing that local governments should be able to direct law enforcement resources as needed. Among the funding at risk is an $8 million entitlement from the Department of Justice that supports various task forces and forensic testing within the San Diego Police Department. Ferbert warned that losing these funds would be detrimental, especially in light of a potential budget shortfall.
Not all local officials are in agreement with the lawsuit. State Assemblyman Carl DeMaio criticized the city’s stance, stating, “It makes absolutely no sense for the federal government to reward police departments in cities that are sanctuaries,” arguing that these departments impede federal efforts to deport individuals with criminal records.
El Cajon, which is also subject to SB 54, represents a contrasting perspective. Mayor Bill Wells expressed his intention to assist federal authorities, stating, “You can’t have certain parts of the country — be it cities, counties or states — being in open rebellion against the federal government. I just think that leads to nothing but chaos and problems.”
The lawsuit is still in its early stages, but it echoes past legal challenges during the Trump administration. In 2017, local governments successfully overturned an executive order aimed at freezing federal funding for sanctuary cities.
