A federal judge ruled Thursday that the Trump administration cannot withhold billions of dollars in transportation grants from Democratic-led states that decline to cooperate with immigration enforcement.
Chief U.S. District Judge John McConnell in Providence, Rhode Island, issued a preliminary injunction in a lawsuit brought by 20 states. He said the states would suffer “large-scale irreparable harm” without the court’s intervention.
The decision comes just days before a June 20 grant application deadline. The Department of Transportation had recently imposed new conditions requiring applicants to agree to support federal immigration enforcement in order to be eligible for funding.
In an April letter, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy told applicants they must commit to enforcing immigration laws and move away from diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. He described this requirement as a condition for receiving financial assistance from the department.
“Adherence to your legal obligations is a prerequisite for receipt of DOT financial assistance,” the letter stated.
Duffy also released a statement saying the guidance should not be controversial. “Federal grants come with a clear obligation to adhere to federal laws,” he said. “It shouldn’t be controversial – enforce our immigration rules, end anti-American DEI policies, and protect free speech. These values reflect the priorities of the American people, and I will take action to ensure compliance.”
In response, 20 Democratic state attorneys general filed a lawsuit challenging what they called the “Duffy Directive.” They argued Duffy did not have the authority to set these conditions and called the move coercive and unrelated to the original purpose of the funding, which is meant to support transportation infrastructure and safety.
Judge McConnell, an appointee of President Barack Obama, sided with the states. He said the federal government failed to show any clear link between immigration enforcement and the Department of Transportation’s mission as outlined by Congress.
“The Government does not cite to any plausible connection between cooperating with ICE enforcement and the congressionally approved purposes of the Department of Transportation,” McConnell wrote.
He also warned that allowing the new rule to proceed could harm the public. Without the injunction, he said, states and their citizens could face major disruptions in transportation services, including delays in ongoing projects and threats to public safety.
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