Federal judge says no to Trump: California’s 16 sanctuary cities safe — For Now

San Francisco, California – A federal judge in California has blocked the Trump administration from withholding or conditioning federal funds to so-called “sanctuary” jurisdictions, calling parts of former President Donald Trump’s executive orders unconstitutional. The ruling marks a major legal victory for local governments that have resisted federal immigration enforcement efforts.

U.S. District Judge William Orrick issued the preliminary injunction Thursday in response to a lawsuit led by San Francisco, Santa Clara County, and 13 other jurisdictions nationwide. The judge’s order bars the federal government from “directly or indirectly taking any action to withhold, freeze, or condition federal funds” based on local immigration policies and requires written notification of the ruling to all federal departments and agencies by Monday.

The Trump-era directives included executive orders instructing then-Attorney General Pam Bondi and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to withhold funding from cities and counties that limited cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Another order mandated that all federal agencies avoid funding entities that “abet sanctuary policies” shielding undocumented immigrants from deportation.

During a hearing Wednesday, Justice Department lawyers argued that the injunction was premature, as no agency has withheld specific funds. But Judge Orrick, an Obama appointee, rejected that argument, citing the administration’s pattern of targeting sanctuary jurisdictions and the mounting concern among plaintiffs.

“Their well-founded fear of enforcement is even stronger than it was in 2017,” Orrick wrote, referencing nearly identical executive actions taken during Trump’s first term and associated directives from federal officials.

San Francisco previously challenged a similar order in 2017 and won, with the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upholding a ruling that the president had exceeded his constitutional authority.

Sanctuary policies generally restrict local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration agents, particularly when it comes to detaining individuals solely for deportation. Advocates say these policies foster trust between immigrant communities and local police, making cities safer overall.

Alongside San Francisco and Santa Clara County, other plaintiffs in the lawsuit include Seattle, Portland, Minneapolis, St. Paul, New Haven, and Santa Fe.

Judge Orrick’s ruling reinforces earlier decisions that presidents cannot unilaterally impose financial penalties on municipalities based on immigration policy. The injunction halts any attempts by federal agencies to tie funding to sanctuary status while the lawsuit proceeds.

The case underscores ongoing legal and political battles over immigration enforcement and the limits of executive power in federal funding decisions.