California is launching a new lawsuit against the Trump administration, in an ongoing dispute over sanctuary cities and immigration enforcement.
Monday’s court filing challenges new limits placed on federal crime-fighting grants. The Department of Justice said last month it would only provide the grants if cities, counties and states work with federal immigration agents.
State Attorney General Xavier Becerra says that’s not the job of local police.
“We’re in the public safety business,” he said. “We’re not in the deportation business.”
The lawsuit argues that federal statutes that require local cooperation represent an unconstitutional overreach.
California and local agencies receive about $28 million annually for law enforcement programs from the federal Byrne Justice Assistance grants.
California becomes the first state to sue the Trump administration over sanctuary city policies. San Francisco, Santa Clara County and Richmond also have an ongoing lawsuit challenging the president’s executive order that cracks down on sanctuary cities.