Judge Stops Trump’s Bid to Defund Sanctuary States Over Immigration Stance

A federal judge in Rhode Island has thrown a wrench into President Trump’s plan to slash transportation funding for states that don’t play ball with immigration enforcement. On Thursday, U.S. District Court Judge John J. McConnell Jr. issued a preliminary injunction, calling the Trump administration’s move "unconstitutional and unlawful." The ruling blocks the Department of Transportation (DOT) from withholding funds from so-called sanctuary states, at least for now.

Twenty Democratic-led states sued the administration over a new DOT policy that threatened to cut federal cash flow to jurisdictions refusing to comply with immigration enforcement. Trump’s executive order, signed on his first day in office, aimed to starve these states of funds, escalating tensions with places like California, where officials have openly distanced themselves from federal immigration priorities.

Judge McConnell didn’t mince words, stating the policy violates the Administrative Procedure Act and oversteps Congress’s authority under the Spending Clause. He barred the administration from enforcing what’s been dubbed the "Duffy Directive," named after Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who’s been vocal about punishing "rogue state actors."

Duffy doubled down this week, warning states that refuse to cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) they’ll be left to fend for themselves. He’s pointed fingers at California, where protests and riots in cities like Los Angeles have flared amid anti-ICE sentiment. "No cooperation, no cash," Duffy said bluntly, insisting federal grants come with strings attached—namely, adherence to federal law.

For now, the injunction keeps the funds flowing, but the fight’s far from over. The White House hasn’t commented, but this legal setback could force Trump to rethink his strategy—or dig in harder.