7-19-2018
OLYMPIA, Wash. — Washington is one of six states suing the federal government over immigration enforcement.
The six states, which includes New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, Massachusetts and Virginia, say they could lose a total of nearly $25 million in funds.
The federal government in July 2017 imposed conditions requiring cities receiving public safety grants to tell federal agents when illegal immigrants are about to be released from police detention.
The lawsuits say the government is trying to unlawfully force sanctuary communities to engage in federal immigration enforcement in order to get anti-crime funding.
A Justice Department spokesman called the lawsuits “a disservice to these states’ law-abiding citizens.”