Seattle, Portland sue Trump admin for withholding federal funding to sanctuary cities, claim policies aiding and abetting illegal immigrants are 'lawful'

The cities of Seattle and Portland joined a lawsuit against the Trump administration over Trump's executive order targeting sanctuary cities that harbor illegal immigrants and impede federal immigration enforcement operations. The lawsuit claims that sanctuary policies have made "communities safer" and that the federal government does not have the authority to dictate how local law enforcement and jurisdictions conduct immigration-related matters.

The lawsuit was initially filed on February 7 in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. The case is spearheaded by the city of San Francisco and Santa Clara County, with other Democratic-run sanctuary cities across the country recently joining the action, including Seattle, Washington, and Portland, Oregon.

Seattle City Attorney Ann Davison announced the lawsuit on Monday, saying the Trump administration's threats to withhold federal funding to cities with sanctuary laws was an example of "federal overreach."

"Disregarding established law, President Donald Trump has attempted to coerce local authorities and to commandeer local jurisdictions into carrying out the duties of the federal executive branch, while punishing those who dissent," Davison told Komo News. "It is well within our authority to direct our employees in this manner."

Under Seattle's sanctuary laws, local law enforcement is prohibited from notifying ICE when an illegal immigrant has been arrested on civil and criminal charges. Additionally, jails are not permitted to cooperate with ICE detainers, which are requests to alert ICE before illegal immigrants - who have been accused or convicted of a crime - are released from custody so that federal authorities can detain them. The Trump administration argued in the executive order that these measures protect illegal aliens and hamper federal law enforcement operations, both of which are federal crimes.

"We do not obstruct federal law," Davison claimed. "We comply with all federal laws and believe that having what we call a 'welcoming city' is lawful."

The lawsuit claims that President Donald Trump, aided by co-defendants Attorney General Pam Bondi, Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove, and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, are seeking to "punish those who disagree" with the administration's immigration policies, "coerce local authorities" and "commandeer them into carrying out" the president's agenda. The Trump administration has also vowed to prosecute officials who do not comply with the executive order. The plaintiffs charge that the EOs violate the Tenth Amendment, Separation of Powers, the Spending Clause, and the Due Process Clause.

"[Trump's] actions fly in the face of foundational constitutional principles," the suit states. "They force local governments that have made deliberate decisions about how to make their communities safer and where to spend their own resources into an impossible choice - to relinquish their autonomy and independence and abandon their valid laws and policies, or face the sudden and devastating loss of federal funding and civil and criminal enforcement actions."

The city of Portland's sanctuary policies mirror that of Seattle's, which are the two largest cities in the Pacific Northwest. Federal law enforcement sources told The Post Millennial that Oregon and Washington are among the worst offending states when it comes to not honoring ICE detainers. This has resulted in criminal illegal immigrants being released from custody to re-offend.

Signing onto the suit, Portland Mayor Keith Wilson said in a press release: "As a sanctuary city, we are focused on making Portland a safe, welcoming place for all community members...Portland is obligated to uphold both state laws and our values, and we are prepared to make that case in court."

ICE ERO Seattle, which oversees both Washington and Oregon, has apprehended a significant number of illegal immigrants since the Trump administration initiated nationwide deportation operations on January 20. An El Salvadoran "hitman" who was sought in his homeland for kidnapping and homicide was apprehended by ICE Seattle on February 11 in Washington state. Additionally, the agency has apprehended numerous illegal immigrants in the state who have been convicted and charged with severe offenses, such as child rape, sexual battery, assault with sexual motivation, assault with deadly weapons, illicit drug manufacturing, and attempted murder.

ICE operations targeting Oregon have resulted in the apprehensions of suspected criminal alien drug dealers near Portland. Those taken into custody were found in possession of fentanyl, heroin, and cash.

Many of the apprehended illegal immigrants were previously deported from the United States and are set to be removed from the country pending proceedings, ICE said. Records show that the majority of recent illegal alien arrestees were released from county jails without notifying ICE.

The following cities and counties have signed onto the suit: San Francisco, Santa Clara County, San Diego, Sacramento, Seattle, King County, Portland, Oakland, Monterey, Santa Cruz, New Haven, Emeryville, Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Santa Fe.

Members of the public can report immigration-related crimes or suspicious activity by calling (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.