This evening, a three judge panel of the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals blocked the implementation of President Trump’s effort to impose financial sanctions on cities and states that enact “Sanctuary Cities” policies. In the majority opinion, the court said that it issued the injunction to prevent “tyranny.” The ruling allows a national preliminary injunction against the defunding to stay in play.
Using strong language, the court said that “The Attorney General in this case used the sword of federal funding to conscript state and local authorities to aid in federal civil immigration enforcement. But the power of the purse rests with Congress, which authorized the federal funds at issue and did not impose any immigration enforcement conditions on the receipt of such funds. It falls to us, the judiciary, as the remaining branch of the government, to act as a check on such usurpation of power.”
All three judges were appointed by Republicans, one by George H.W. Bush, one b Reagan, and one by Ford.
