Attorney General Kwame Raoul of Illinois, along with attorneys general from California, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and a coalition of 20 states, has initiated legal action against the Trump administration. The lawsuits target federal agencies for allegedly imposing unlawful immigration conditions on federal funding designated for emergency services and infrastructure projects.
The coalition filed two separate lawsuits: one against the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem; and another against the Department of Transportation (DOT) and DOT Secretary Sean Duffy. The legal actions challenge new conditions requiring state cooperation with federal immigration enforcement to receive federal funds.
"The funding states receive from FEMA and the Department of Transportation are, quite literally, lifesaving," said Attorney General Raoul. He emphasized that these funds are crucial for disaster recovery and maintaining transportation safety. "This critical funding has nothing to do with immigration," he added, calling the administration's approach "unconstitutional and outrageous."
The lawsuits argue that Congress appropriated these funds for specific purposes like disaster relief and infrastructure development. They claim that imposing immigration-related conditions exceeds the legal authority of FEMA and DOT.
In February, Secretary Noem instructed DHS to stop funding jurisdictions not assisting in federal immigration law enforcement. Subsequently, DOT Secretary Duffy announced similar requirements for DOT grants related to highways, public transportation, airports, and railways.
Raoul's coalition argues that such conditions threaten public safety by risking vital funds needed for emergency preparedness. They highlight potential damage to trust between law enforcement and immigrant communities if forced compliance is mandated.
Illinois alone received significant amounts from these programs last year: over $122 million from FEMA and more than $2 billion from DOT grants. The coalition warns that withholding these funds could harm public infrastructure nationwide.
Joining this legal effort are attorneys general from Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Washington, Wisconsin, Vermont.