Court Blocks Immigration Grant Conditions in 23 States

A federal judge in Rhode Island ruled that the Justice Department cannot condition congressionally authorized public-safety grants on states’ cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, permanently blocking the requirements challenged by a coalition of 23 states. The affected programs include Byrne Justice Assistance Grants and funding for juvenile justice and other law-enforcement initiatives. The ruling preserves Washington’s eligibility for about $7.5 million and protects funding for Connecticut and other states; Connecticut reported receiving more than $6.8 million in Byrne JAG grants and $5.1 million in crisis-intervention grants from fiscal years 2022 through 2025. The decision follows an earlier multistate challenge that led the federal government to remove similar immigration conditions from more than $1.3 billion in crime-victim assistance funding.