Chicago to sue Trump administration over sanctuary city threat

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel (D) plans to file a lawsuit against the Trump administration over its holding back of public safety grant money from so-called sanctuary cities.

“We’re not going to actually auction off our values as a city, so Monday morning the city of Chicago is going to court, we’re going to take the Justice Department to court based on this,” Emanuel said during an interview on WLS radio 890 set to air Sunday, according to The Chicago Tribune.

{mosads}”We find it unlawful and unconstitutional to be, as a city, coerced on a policy,” he said. 

Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced in July that state and local governments seeking the grant funding must certify they are not so-called sanctuary cities, which refuse to assist federal authorities in enforcing immigration laws.

“From now on, the Department will only provide Byrne JAG grants to cities and states that comply with federal law, allow federal immigration access to detention facilities, and provide 48 hours notice before they release an illegal alien wanted by federal authorities,” Sessions said last month. 

Sessions was referring to federal Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant funding.

Chicago plans to use $3.2 million in such funds to buy police vehicles.

The Justice Department on Thursday threatened to withhold funding from cities struggling with violence crime, including Albuquerque, N.M.; Baltimore; San Bernardino, Calif.; and Stockton, Calif., unless they give federal immigration officials access to detention facilities.