FEMA Unlawfully Froze Funds for Sanctuary States, Judge Says (1)

The Federal Emergency Management Agency diverted counterterrorism and security grants away from so-called “sanctuary” states in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act, a Rhode Island federal district court ruled.

The government’s decision to “hold hostage funding for programs” that protect Americans “based solely on what appears to be Defendants’ political whims” is unlawful, said Judge Mary S. McElroy of the US District Court for the District of Rhode Island in a Monday order.

The plaintiffs, a coalition of blue states and the District of Columbia, sued the Department of Homeland Security in September, saying FEMA slashed their counterterrorism and ...