(The Center Square) – The city of Seattle is joining in a lawsuit against President Donald Trump’s administration for implementing federal policies that target jurisdictions protecting illegal immigrants.
The lawsuit was initially filed on Feb. 7 and spearheaded by the County of Santa Clara and San Francisco. King County was the first jurisdiction to join the lawsuit alongside the Portland, Ore., and New Haven, Conn.
The lawsuit relates to a Trump-issued executive order and a U.S. Department of Justice memorandum withholding funds and pursued enforcement actions against jurisdictions with policies that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities. These jurisdictions are becoming more commonly referred to as “sanctuary jurisdictions.”
Executive Order 14159 denies federal funding to these sanctuary jurisdictions.
The Department of Justice has filed lawsuits against states and localities with illegal immigrant-friendly policies in place, which the lawsuits deem as an unprecedented interpretation of the federal government’s authority over local government resources.
The plaintiffs assert that the federal policies are unconstitutional in violation of the 10th Amendment, which states that powers not given to the federal government are reserved to the states or the people.
Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell said the actions by the Trump administration interfere with the city’s public safety efforts by cutting grants that support detectives’ investigations into crimes such as sexual assault and domestic violence.
Federal grants also fund substance use disorder programming, and 911 dispatch and survivor services.
“The loss of millions in federal grants and support would have an immediate and devastating impact on these vital programs,” Harrell said in a statement on Feb. 28. “When Seattle’s local values, policies, and priorities are challenged by illegal federal actions, we will not hesitate to do everything in our power to defend our people and our rights.”
According to the press release, the courts have repeatedly upheld local governments’ constitutional right to choose a policy of noncooperation, which does not prevent the federal government from using its own resources to enforce federal immigration laws.
Alongside Seattle are 11 other jurisdictions that were added to the amended complaint on Feb. 27, including cities in California and Minnesota, as well as Santa Fe, N.M.
The cities of Minneapolis, New Haven, Portland, St. Paul, Santa Fe, and Seattle are being represented in the case by Public Rights Project, a nonpartisan nonprofit that works with local governments to protect civil rights.
The lawsuit and amendment were filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. A case management conference regarding the case will be held on May 6.
