Judge Permanently Blocks Trump's 'Unconstitutional' Attempt to Defund Sanctuary Cities

On Monday night, a federal judge described President Trump’s executive order attempting to defund sanctuary cities as “unconstitutional on its face” and permanently blocked its implementation.

Judge William Orrick of the Northern U.S. District Court of California issued the decision after his April temporary injunction was appealed by the Justice Department.

“The defendants are permanently enjoined from enforcing Section 9(a) of the Executive Order against jurisdictions they deem as sanctuary jurisdictions. Because Section 9(a) is unconstitutional on its face, and not simply in its application to the plaintiffs here, a nationwide injunction against the defendants other than President Trump is appropriate,” Orrick ruled.

San Francisco and Santa Clara County sued the Trump administration over $2 billion in funding both municipalities stood to lose under the order. A lawyer from the Justice Department argued in April that San Francisco would lose no money in grants and Santa Clara would lose under $1 million, according to The Washington Post.

“This is a victory for the American people and the rule of law. This executive order was unconstitutional before the ink on it was even dry,” San Francisco’s city attorney Dennis Herrera said in a statement. “President Trump might be able to tweet whatever comes to mind, but he can’t grant himself new authority because he feels like it.”