A federal court in California has blocked an executive order from President Donald Trump, aimed at putting financial pressure on communities that disagree with him on an immigration policy.
But Milwaukee County may still have to prove it cooperates with federal immigration authorities in order to keep some public safety funds.
The federal ruling says the Trump administration can’t withhold money from communities that limit cooperation on immigration actions, commonly referred to as sanctuary cities. But the ruling from San Francisco U.S. District Judge William Orrick says the White House can enforce existing conditions for grants.
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Last Friday, Attorney General Jeff Sessions gave Milwaukee County, and eight other U.S. communities about two months to prove they still qualify for some federal public safety funding by showing they collaborate with federal immigration authorities in cases surrounding local undocumented immigrants.
Milwaukee County Supervisor Marina Dimitrijevic said Tuesday’s ruling is only a partial win.
“This initial decision shows that we’re on the right side of this, and we’re going to continue. And when we’re threatened, we should push, and push hard,” Dimitrijevic said.
Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele said he was pleased with the federal court decision, which he said, “upheld the Constitution.”
“I’m far more concerned that this step was even necessary,” he said. “The first thing that every single elected official in America does when they enter office is to swear an oath to uphold the Constitution.”
Abele expanded in a statement:
“This executive order was never based on a reality that public safety was at risk and neither was the letter nine of us received from the Department of Justice last Friday. Instead, both clearly intended to foster fear, divisiveness, and intolerance, specifically and offensively towards immigrants.”
Trump took a far different view of Tuesday’s ruling, stating, “Once again, a single district judge — this time in San Francisco — has ignored Federal immigration law to set a new immigration policy for the entire country.”
Dimitrijevic said Milwaukee County is working to provide evidence to keep its existing federal grant.
“We’re working with our law enforcement, with our corporation counsel attorneys , to provide that evidence. So we’re going to do everything we can , but at the same time, balance that with remaining a safe open place for all immigrants, ” Dimitrijevic said.
On Monday, Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke praised the effort by Sessions to keep the political heat on the county and the other communities.
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