DOJ Gives Funding Advantage to Cities that Cooperate with ICE

In an attempt to follow through on its threats to withhold federal funding from sanctuary cities due to their refusal to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) place those jurisdictions at a competitive disadvantage for federal law enforcement grants. After a federal court blocked the DOJ from keeping federal grant funding from sanctuary cities, the DOJ simply gave special treatment to those jurisdictions that fully cooperate with ICE demands. The Trump administration previously had issued an executive order that withheld federal funding from sanctuary cities, which do not provide information to ICE about individuals who may be in the country with no legal status or honor detainers requested by ICE. From the perspective of these jurisdictions, local law enforcement officials are not responsible for checking individuals’ immigration status or enforcing federal immigration laws. These jurisdictions claim that cooperating with ICE to deport undocumented individuals erodes trust between law enforcement and immigrant communities. Immigration advocates and legal scholars are pondering a separate legal challenge to the DOJ’s prioritization of jurisdictions that cooperate with ICE. While it is normal for government agencies to prioritize certain applicants over others, the DOJ’s prioritization in this instance was far from normal. At stake during this round of funding was almost $100 million in federal grants to fund the hiring of over 800 new law enforcement officers. According to Attorney General Jeff Sessions, 80% of that funding was awarded to departments that cooperate with ICE by, for example, giving advance notice of the planned release of suspected undocumented immigrants. No matter what circumstances your case may involve, the skilled and knowledgeable immigration lawyers of Landerholm Immigration, A.P.C. are here to get immigrants released from detention and defend them against removal from the country. We handle these types of cases on a regular basis and have valuable knowledge about how to best represent your interests, based on your individual circumstances. By contacting our office right away, you will place yourself in the best position possible to have loved ones released from detention and defend again potential removal from home and family.