Rhode Island's Attorney General Neronha highlighted that while the state cooperates with federal authorities, it cannot divert resources to enforce federal immigration policies that conflict with victim safety.

The Trump administration has prioritized deporting illegal migrants and filed lawsuits against sanctuary jurisdictions, including Illinois and Los Angeles, to enforce compliance with federal immigration laws.

This lawsuit follows multiple legal actions by Democratic attorneys general challenging federal policies, emphasizing concerns over constitutional violations and the protection of state authority and victim rights.

The coalition, led by New Jersey's Attorney General, is seeking a court order to permanently prevent the Trump administration from enforcing these illegal conditions.

Multiple states, led by Rhode Island, have filed a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration over new conditions on over $1 billion in Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funding, which link victim aid to immigration enforcement efforts.

These funds are vital for services such as sexual assault exams, victim advocacy, and funeral expenses, supporting local victim assistance programs.

The lawsuit argues that the federal government's directive conflicts with state policies that allow crime victims and witnesses to report crimes without fear of deportation, potentially undermining public safety and victim support.

State attorneys general, including Raoul, emphasize that these conditions are unlawful, motivated by political agendas, and threaten public safety by discouraging victims from seeking help.

Attorneys general from states like New Jersey, California, and Illinois criticize the federal approach as harmful, describing it as the most anti-public safety administration in recent history, and accuse the federal government of holding victims and public safety hostage.

These officials argue that the federal actions violate constitutional principles and federalism, and they are seeking a court order to permanently block the enforcement of these conditions.

This legal challenge is part of broader disputes over federal and state authority, with previous lawsuits defending constitutional separation of powers and challenging federal overreach.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta condemned the move as an abuse of power aimed at coercing states into enforcing federal immigration policies.

A Rhode Island judge recently blocked similar restrictions on domestic violence and sexual assault grants, signaling judicial resistance to such enforcement measures.