Federal Judge Halts Trump Order Threatening Funds to Saint Paul and 15 Local Governments Nationwide

SAINT PAUL – Today, a U.S. District Court in the Northern District of California granted a preliminary injunction in the City of San Francisco’s lawsuit against the Trump administration, temporarily blocking the White House executive order that threatened to withhold federal funding from local jurisdictions who declined to assist with federal immigration enforcement. The ruling was issued less than 24 hours after oral arguments. 

The City of Saint Paul joined the lawsuit in February, reaffirming its 2004 separation ordinance, which guarantees all residents access to city services regardless of immigration status. The ordinance also states that city employees are not authorized to enforce federal immigration policy. 

“This ruling affirms what we’ve always known: the President cannot force city employees to serve as ICE agents,” said Mayor Carter. “Our team will stay focused on our sacred responsibility—to provide exceptional public services for all of our residents.” 

Together, Saint Paul and the 15 jurisdictions across the country are home to nearly 10 million residents. Policies similar to Saint Paul’s separation ordinance ensure local resources stay focused on local priorities, while reinforcing the core public safety goal: that all community members—regardless of immigration status—can safely interact with local law enforcement without fear of immigration enforcement. 

Since taking office in January, the Trump administration has issued 130 executive orders, many of which include threats to withhold federal funding that supports critical investments in emergency response, infrastructure, housing, and other essential services. In Saint Paul alone, these threats put $260 million in federal funding at risk. 

"In our elected and appointed positions, we take oaths to defend and uphold our Constitution,” said City Attorney Lyndsey Olson. “It is our duty to defend our community against unconstitutional orders and actions at the federal level that directly affect our residents and our community.” 

The ruling, which deemed the Trump administration’s executive order a violation of the Constitution’s separation of powers principles and the spending clause, will likely be heard next in the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. 

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