The Tuesday decision by a federal judge to block President Trump’s attempt to withhold federal funding from sanctuary cities is evidence the Ninth Circuit is “going bananas,” a White House official told reporters Tuesday evening.
Earlier Tuesday, U.S. District Judge William Orrick issued a preliminary injunction in separate lawsuits from San Francisco and Santa Clara County in California, barring the January executive order from being implemented.
The Trump administration sought to punish cities and counties whose police departments do not honor federal immigration officers detainer requests. By withholding $1.2 billion from San Francisco and $1.7 billion to Santa Clara County, Trump hoped to stop sanctuary districts from protecting illegal aliens from deportation.
Orrick ruled the White House does not have the authority to attach new conditions to federal spending.
This is the third time the Trump administration has been dealt a blow by the court system regarding an executive order on immigration.
