May withhold funding for refusing to cooperate
A three-judge panel on the Second Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously ruled that the Department of Justice can withhold funding from cities and states that refuse to cooperate with the Trump Administration’s policy regarding undocumented immigrants.
This ruling overturns a district court judge’s ruling that the department lacked the authority to impose immigration-related conditions on certain funding.
The opinion, written by Judge Reena Raggi, found that Congress had delegated authority to the attorney general to set conditions on the federal grant program it had created, called the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program.
“Repeatedly and throughout its pronouncement of Byrne Program statutory requirements, Congress makes clear that a grant applicant demonstrates qualification by satisfying statutory requirements in such form and according to such rules as the Attorney General establishes,” wrote Raggi. “This confers considerable authority on the Attorney General.”
It is unclear if the states challenging the policy will appeal the ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- That God would give the Justices of the Court wisdom as they determine the best way to rule in these cases.
- For the Court to be guided to the right cases to hear in the future.
- For Congress to work with the Court to create laws that are within the framework of the constitution.
Sources: The Hill, Los Angeles Times
