The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Economic Justice represents the cities of Lawrence and Chelsea in Massachusetts in litigation challenging the constitutionality of the Trump Administration’s efforts to defund sanctuary cities.
The Department of Justice’s most recent announcement threatening to defund sanctuary cities represents an unprecedented encroachment on the lawful exercise of local and state authority. The federal government’s escalating threats amount to unconstitutional coercion and are in direct violation of well-established rights that are protected under the 10th Amendment.
Local officials have broad discretion to create and implement policies that meet the public safety needs of their residents. We will continue to protect children and families in sanctuary cities against the federal government’s unconstitutional abuse of power.
Our response to the most recent threats against sanctuary cities was featured in the Boston Globe, the Boston Herald, and the Eagle Tribune.