Bay Area jurisdictions expand legal fight against Trump sanctuary crackdown

A coalition of Bay Area jurisdictions, including Marin County and cities like Berkeley and Palo Alto, has joined a nationwide lawsuit against the Trump administration's actions targeting sanctuary cities. This lawsuit, now involving 50 jurisdictions, argues that federal attempts to penalize these cities violate the U. S. Constitution. San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu stated that the federal government cannot commandeer local law enforcement.

Marin County Counsel Brian Washington highlighted that the federal government cannot coerce local jurisdictions into compliance through threats of funding cuts. The lawsuit seeks to protect community well-being and uphold local governance rights. Past court rulings have reinforced local governments' authority to limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. The plaintiffs contend that the Trump administration's actions infringe upon the 10th Amendment, the Spending Clause, and due process protections under the 5th Amendment. The Public Rights Project supports this legal action, emphasizing the importance of local priorities in resource allocation.