By Phil Helsel, NBC News:
The city of Seattle on Wednesday announced a federal lawsuit over the Trump administration’s threat to withhold federal grants to so-called “sanctuary cities,” citing the 10th Amendment that deals with states’ rights.
“Apparently the Trump administration, their war on facts, has now become a war on cities,” Seattle Mayor Ed Murray said. He said the goal of the suit is to have a judge declare the order unconstitutional.
“Let me be clear about the facts: We are not breaking any laws and we are prioritizing safety,” Murray said.
President Donald Trump on Jan. 25 signed an executive order directing the federal government to ensure that jurisdictions that refuse to cooperate with immigration officials are not eligible to receive some federal grants.
“These jurisdictions have caused immeasurable harm to the American people and to the very fabric of our Republic,” Trump said in the executive order. Trump made illegal immigration a central issue of his campaign.
On Monday, Attorney General Jeff Sessions said the Justice Department would require cities seeking some of $4.1 billion available in grant money to verify that they are in compliance with a section of federal law that allows information sharing with immigration officials.
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