• A federal judge blocked the Trump administration from withholding transportation funds from states not cooperating with ICE.
• The ruling affects 20 Democratic-led states that argued against the federal conditions imposed on funding.
• The court found that the conditions violated the U.S. Constitution and were without legal authority.

A federal judge on Thursday issued a ruling that prevents the Trump administration from requiring states to cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to receive billions in transportation funding. Chief U.S. District Judge John McConnell stated that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) lacks the authority to impose such conditions, deeming them arbitrary and capricious, as they strayed from the intended purpose of the funding, which is to support essential infrastructure projects, according to CBS News and Reuters.

The lawsuit was initiated by a coalition of 20 states against the Trump administration's threat to cut off critical transportation grants if they did not comply with federal immigration enforcement. Judge McConnell indicated that the states demonstrated potential irreparable harm should they be compelled to abide by unlawful and unconstitutional conditions tied to the funding, which they rely on for vital transportation infrastructure, according to Los Angeles Times and Reuters.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta lauded the ruling, emphasizing that President Trump has been using transportation funds as a bargaining tool to enforce his immigration agenda. The ruling aligns with sentiments expressed across other states in the lawsuit, which highlighted that the financial stakes are significant, with tens of billions potentially at risk, according to CBS News and Los Angeles Times.

Despite the ruling, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy defended the administration's authority to dictate compliance with federal immigration laws for states receiving federal funding. The decision reflects ongoing tensions between state rights and federal mandates regarding immigration enforcement in "sanctuary" jurisdictions, according to Reuters and Los Angeles Times.