A coalition of cities and counties, including San Francisco, Santa Clara, King County, Portland, and New Haven, has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, accusing it of unlawfully targeting and threatening sanctuary jurisdictions. The case, filed in the Northern District of California on Friday, centers around President Trump’s executive order aimed at withholding federal funds from localities that refuse to comply with his immigration policies. The lawsuit also challenges a memo from the Department of Justice issued on February 5, 2025, which threatens civil and criminal prosecution for jurisdictions that do not comply.
The plaintiffs argue that these actions violate constitutional protections, including the 10th Amendment, due process, and the separation of powers. They seek a court declaration that the Trump administration’s policies are unlawful and request an injunction to prevent their enforcement. “The federal government is overreaching by attempting to dictate how local governments should use their resources and by threatening to coerce local law enforcement,” said San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu in a Friday statement. He emphasized that the lawsuit is a response to what they see as an unconstitutional effort to punish cities for resisting federal immigration enforcement.
The case reflects a broader conflict between the Trump administration and Democratic-led jurisdictions that have adopted sanctuary policies. In 2017, San Francisco had already taken legal action against a similar executive order, which was later blocked by a federal judge. This new lawsuit builds on that effort, highlighting concerns over the latest threats of federal investigations and legal action against local officials.
Chiu noted that the lawsuit is not just a defense of sanctuary cities but a preemptive strike against further federal overreach, particularly in light of recent legal actions taken by the Trump administration against other sanctuary jurisdictions like Chicago and Cook County. He also expects other localities to join the lawsuit in challenging what they perceive as an unlawful federal attempt to commandeer local law enforcement resources.
This legal battle underscores the ongoing tension between local governments and the federal government over the enforcement of immigration laws, with significant constitutional questions about the scope of federal power and local autonomy.
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