Democratic-led states sue over Trump restrictions on crime victim grants

Source: USA Today

Updated Aug. 18, 2025, 1:45 p.m. ET


Democratic attorneys general are suing the Trump administration over its attempt to condition federal funding for the victims of crimes on states’ cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.

In a suit filed on Aug. 18 in Rhode lsland, the attorneys general called the move a brazen attempt by the Justice Department to “strong-arm” states into supporting President Donald Trump’s immigration policies. “We won’t be bullied or manipulated by the Trump administration,” California Attorney General Rob Bonta told reporters.

The Trump administration has threatened to sue and withhold federal funds from more than 20 "sanctuary" states, cities and counties, because of their lack of cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. "Sanctuary policies impede law enforcement and put American citizens at risk by design," Attorney General Pam Bondi said in an Aug. 5 statement.

There's no specific legal definition of a sanctuary city, state or other jurisdiction, but Bondi's office criticized policies like failing to collaborate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, providing government benefits to undocumented immigrants or refusing to share immigration information about jail detainees.

Read more: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/08/18/democratic-attorneys-general-trump-crime-victim-grants-sanctuary-cities/85711503007/