Seventh Circuit Rejects Trump’s Effort to Defund Sanctuary Cities, Affirms Nationwide Injunction

President Trump has been consistent in challenging sanctuary cities that resist his administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement measures.  In an opinion by Judge Ilana Rovner, joined by Judge William Bauer, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit  rejected the Trump administration’s effort to de-fund sanctuary cities and affirmed a nationwide injunction barring the de-funding:

“We conclude again today, as we did when presented with the preliminary injunction, that the Attorney General cannot pursue the policy objectives of the executive branch through the power of the purse or the arm of local law enforcement; that is not within its delegation. It is the prerogative of the legislative branch and the local governments, and the Attorney General’s assertion that Congress itself provided that authority in the language of the statutes cannot withstand scrutiny.”

Judge Daniel Manion dissented in part:

“My concurrence addresses all parts except the court’s approval of a nationwide injunction. Broad, sweeping relief of such nature is rarely appropriate, and nothing indicates Chicago needs a nationwide injunction . . . . “

Attorney General William Barr has derided nationwide injunctions entered by the federal courts.

For more details on the ruling, click here.

KJ