The City of Chicago has filed suit against Attorney General Jeff Sessions on Monday in an effort to block the Trump administration’s efforts that would preclude “sanctuary cities” from obtaining federal funding by imposing conditions forcing local law enforcement to comply with federal immigration enforcement, according to Reuters.
In question is $3.2 million for the purchasing of equipment from the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grants.
Last week, the U.S. Department of Justice published the application for the grant, adding in a new set of conditions to be eligible, including compliance with a federal stature that prevents restrictions on information sharing between feds and local agencies; requiring unfettered access to local police stations and facilities by U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) personnel; and requiring that cities provide the DHS with at least 48 hours notice before releasing an arrested person.
“Community policing is a guiding philosophy of the Chicago Police Department, but it cannot succeed when a segment of the community is afraid to cooperate or communicate with the police,” Mayor Rahm Emanuel said in a statement. “Forcing us to choose between our values and our police department’s philosophy of community policing is a false choice, and it is a choice that would ultimately undermine our public safety agenda.”
The city will request a decision from the judge before the Sept. 5 grant application deadline, Emanuel’s senior legal adviser, Corporation Counsel Ed Siskel told Reuters.
The full text of the lawsuit can be read here.
