WASHINGTON, Jan 13 (Reuters) – The U.S. Justice Department has requested a federal appeals court to dismiss its appeal challenging a lower court’s ruling that blocked the Trump administration from requiring states to cooperate with immigration enforcement in order to receive federal transportation funding.
Court Ruling Protects State Transportation Funding
In July, a U.S. judge in Rhode Island ruled that the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) lacked the authority to impose immigration-related conditions on transportation grants. The court emphasized that these conditions violated the U.S. Constitution, noting that there was no legal connection between immigration enforcement cooperation and the intended purpose of the funds, which is to support highways, bridges, and other infrastructure projects.
Table: Federal Transportation Funds at Risk
| State/Entity | USDOT Action | Amount Withheld | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | Withholding | $160 million | Noncompliance with CDLs for non-U.S. citizens |
| California | Previously withheld | $33 million | Alleged failure to meet English proficiency rules for truck drivers |
| High-Speed Rail (CA) | Rescinded | $4 billion | Funding cancellation by USDOT (later lawsuit dropped) |
California Leads Legal Challenge
California Attorney General Rob Bonta, who spearheaded the legal challenge along with the District of Columbia, criticized the Trump administration for using federal transportation funding as leverage for a political agenda.
“California is not playing games when it comes to vital transportation dollars that support our public infrastructure,” Bonta said. “We will continue taking the president to court each time he weaponizes federal funding to bully our communities.”
California receives billions of dollars annually in federal transportation grants, making the ruling crucial to maintaining infrastructure projects across the state.
USDOT Withholds Funds Amid Disputes
Despite the court ruling, USDOT recently withheld $160 million from California for not canceling over 17,000 commercial driver’s licenses issued to non-U.S. citizens. California maintains it is fully compliant with state and federal regulations and strongly disagrees with the withholding of funds.
Last month, California filed a lawsuit over a prior USDOT action withholding $33 million due to alleged English proficiency non-compliance for truck drivers. A separate suit over the $4 billion high-speed rail funding was dropped in December after negotiations with the federal agency.
Significance of the Decision
The dismissal of the appeal marks a victory for states resisting federal attempts to attach immigration enforcement conditions to essential infrastructure funding. Legal experts say this ruling reinforces the separation of powers and ensures that federal funds are used for their intended purpose: building and maintaining transportation systems, not as leverage in political disputes.
2 thoughts on “Trump transportation funds immigration”