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Judge Blocks Order From Causing 'Irreparable Harm' To Sanctuary Cities

A U.S. district judge said Trump's executive order could cause "irreparable harm" to so-called sanctuary cities.

By: Jake Jones

Posted at 7:30 PM, Apr 25, 2017

and last updated 2017-04-25 19:30:09-04

A federal judge in California has blocked President Donald Trump's order intended to withhold federal funding from so-called sanctuary cities.

U.S. District Judge William H. Orrick granted the injunction Tuesday, blocking enforcement of the executive order Trump signed on Jan. 25.

The U.S. Department of Justice sent nine letters to local governments last week, urging them to comply with federal immigration laws or risk losing law enforcement grants.

The injunction doesn't stop the DOJ from withholding money from communities that don't comply with federal laws, but the Justice Department can't enforce Trump's order "in a way that violates the Constitution."

That means the judge didn't rule the order itself was unconstitutional; his injunction just protects sanctuary areas from any potentially unconstitutional lapses in federal funding while the case is being heard.