Court of Appeals limits scope of nationwide injunction on sanctuary city funding

By Jennifer G. Hickey | June 27, 2018

The Justice Department scored a temporary victory June 26 when a federal appeals court agreed with their request to stay a nationwide injunction prohibiting the department from withholding funds from sanctuary cities.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit ruled that the preliminary injunction prohibiting DOJ from withholding funding from sanctuary cities would be restricted to the City of Chicago until the full appeals court reviews the case.

Last July, Attorney General Jeff Sessions placed restrictions on public safety grants to jurisdictions that adopt “sanctuary city” policies – a decision which resulted in several cities, including Chicago, filing a lawsuit against Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

In September, U.S. District Court Judge Harry Leinenweber ordered the Justice Department to continue to disperse federal policing grants to cities regardless of whether they cooperate with immigration enforcement authorities. The decision was upheld in April by a three-judge panel.

On June 18, Solicitor General Noel Francisco asked the Supreme Court for a partial stay on Judge Leinenweber’s order.