On April 24, 2025, U.S. District Judge William Orrick ruled that the Trump administration cannot deny federal funds to sanctuary cities that limit immigration cooperation, declaring parts of the administration's executive orders unconstitutional.

The ruling came in response to a lawsuit filed by 16 municipalities, including San Francisco, Seattle, and Portland, which challenged the executive orders aimed at penalizing local governments for their immigration policies.

This case underscores the ongoing legal battles between local governments and the federal administration regarding immigration policy.

Orrick's decision reinforces the principle that the federal government cannot impose financial penalties on municipalities for their immigration policies, highlighting the tensions over executive power.

The ruling may set a precedent for similar legal challenges across the country, as local governments continue to assert their autonomy in immigration matters.

Plaintiffs, including Santa Clara County, expressed satisfaction with the ruling, emphasizing the importance of maintaining community trust amidst federal overreach.

Sanctuary cities, characterized by limited cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), aim to create safer environments for immigrant communities.

Past rulings during Trump's first term suggest that his administration's new efforts against sanctuary cities are likely to face significant legal challenges.

In response to the ruling, Stephen Miller, a senior advisor to Trump, criticized it as a 'judicial coup' against the administration's immigration policies.

While the ruling is a preliminary injunction preventing immediate enforcement of the executive orders, a final decision on the case is still pending and may be subject to appeal.

The lawsuit followed actions by the Department of Justice against sanctuary laws in Illinois and New York, indicating increased scrutiny of these jurisdictions under the current administration.

The executive orders at the center of this case, issued in 2025, are titled 'Protecting the American People Against Invasion' and 'Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Open Borders,' and they threaten funding cuts to jurisdictions that limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.