7th Circuit limits national 'sanctuary cities' injunction to Chicago
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The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals at Chicago has narrowed a nationwide injunction against the Trump administration’s policy withholding grants from alleged “sanctuary cities.”
At the request of U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions, the injunction now applies only to Chicago, the case’s plaintiff.
According to Politico, a Justice Department spokesman had previously said the increased use of broad injunctions “creates a dangerous precedent.”
The conflict being litigated arose when the administration attempted to force local jurisdictions to work with federal officials on immigration issues by putting new conditions on DOJ grants.
Last September, U.S. District Judge Harry Leinenweber stopped the Justice Department from putting new conditions on a grant issued to Chicago for law enforcement needs, including vehicles and body cameras, reports the Chicago Sun Times.
The two conditions at issue would have required federal access to “any correctional or detention facility in order to meet with an alien … and inquire as to his or her right to be or remain in the United States,” and a 48-hour warning to federal agents before “an alien in the jurisdiction’s custody” is released.
While the DOJ has not released an official statement on their website following this ruling, Sessions gave prepared remarks this week in Los Angeles, calling America’s immigration situation a “crisis.” He also called out Libby Schaaf, the mayor of Oakland, and California Attorney General Xavier Becerra for being too lenient on people living in the country without legal paperwork.
In separate cases, federal judges in Philadelphia and San Francisco have also sided against the Department of Justice’s new grant conditions.
The case in the 7th Circuit will be heard by the full bench on Sept. 6.
