A US federal judge has blocked the Trump administration’s executive order that could deny funding to ‘sanctuary cities’ harbouring illegal immigrants, a ruling that the US President termed as “ridiculous”.
US District Judge William Orrick blocked the Government from enforcing a key portion of President Donald Trump’s January executive order on immigration, which ordered the Department of Homeland Security and Justice Department to block cities who do not cooperate with federal immigration enforcement from receiving federal funds.
Orrick in his ruling yesterday said the president was “exceeding his constitutional authority” by trying to punish local Governments that refuse to cooperate with his immigration policies.
“Given the nationwide scope of the order, and its apparent constitutional flaws, a nationwide injunction is appropriate,” Orrick said in his order, which will remain in effect unless it is overturned by a higher court.