Twenty states and the District of Columbia sued the Justice Department on 19 August 2025 in a Rhode Island federal court. The suit concerns new grant conditions that tie victim assistance funds to immigration enforcement. The plaintiffs argue that these conditions unlawfully coerce states into assisting federal immigration authorities.
Officials further argue that the actions of the Justice Department undermine both statutory limits and constitutional principles by imposing immigration enforcement conditions never authorized by Congress. They contend that such requirements exceed delegated powers, erode federalism, and coerce states into executing federal policy.
The disputed Office for Victims of Crime Notice of Funding Opportunity bars grants from supporting activities that hinder the enforcement of federal immigration law. It specifically references compliance with 8 U.S.C. Section 1373 and providing Department of Homeland Security agents with access and notification about individuals of interest.
According to the states, the Victims of Crime Act does not authorize immigration enforcement conditions. They assert that the Justice Department has exceeded its legal authority, transforming victim-assistance grants into tools for advancing federal immigration priorities and pressuring local governments to abandon sanctuary jurisdiction policies.
Plaintiffs include California, New York, New Jersey, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Colorado, and others. Collectively, these states have received more than 500 million dollars annually in recent years from Victims of Crime Act grants, which sustain counseling, shelters, advocacy programs, and emergency victim services.
The second Trump administration has linked funding to sanctuary cooperation since early 2025, cutting hundreds of grants for nonprofits assisting victims of hate crimes, trafficking, and domestic violence. Service providers warned that these restrictions threaten closures and layoffs, directly reducing support for vulnerable communities in need.
Involved states further seek urgent injunctive relief because application deadlines for fiscal year 2025 grants fall between the middle and the last week of August. Hence, without court intervention, states and local providers must either accept federal immigration conditions or forfeit essential funding for critical victim assistance programs.
Advocates warn that tying victim aid to immigration enforcement erodes trust between immigrant communities and authorities. Victims may hesitate to seek help or report crimes, fearing exposure to federal agents. The attorneys general leading the case emphasize that federal coercion jeopardizes both public safety and community cooperation.