Neronha, 19 attorneys general sue Trump over funds tied to immigration enforcement assistance

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Rhode Island Attorney General Peter F. Neronha announced Tuesday that he and 19 attorneys general have sued the Trump administration for making federal funding contingent on working agents in federal immigration enforcement.

The funding in question is emergency services and infrastructure money already appropriated by Congress, according to Attorney General Neronha.

The coalition of state AGs, including those from New Jersey, California and Illinois, filed two separate lawsuits Tuesday against the administration.

The suits were filed against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and its Secretary Kristi Noem, along with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Department of Transportation (DOT) and its Secretary Sean Duffy, respectively.

“We are experiencing creeping authoritarianism in this country, and as a people we must continue to resist,” said Attorney General Neronha.

“Using the safety of Americans as collateral, the Trump Administration is once again illegally subverting the Congress, bullying the states to relinquish their right, ensured by the Constitution, to enact policies and laws that best serve their residents.”

The statement said that Secretaries Noem and Duffy ordered their respective agencies to end funding for jurisdictions that did not assist the federal government in enforcing immigration law.

Neronha’s statement said that both secretaries required all state and local governments to “certify that they will assist in enforcing federal immigration law” to obtain the funding. 

These actions endanger residents of Rhode Island by cutting off money appropriated for disaster relief and flood mitigation, as well as infrastructure projects, according to Neronha.

In the lawsuit against DHS, the coalition of attorneys general argued that the immigration conditions exceed DHS’ legal authority and that the withheld funds have already been appropriated by Congress.

In the action against DOT, the coalition said that the agency also overstepped its authority and that projects like the Washington Bridge repair would be affected.