Sanctuary Cities Ruling: More Than Immigration

A federal appeals ruling that derailed the Trump administration’s threat to withhold federal funds for law enforcement from sanctuary cities transcends immigration.

While the case is important in the immigration context, it’s true importance lies in its discussion of federalism, Ilya Somin, who teaches constitutional law at George Mason University’s Antonin Scalia Law School, Arlington, Va., told Bloomberg Law.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit ruled April 19 that the administration’s threat to the city of Chicago violated the separation of powers doctrine and imposed a nationwide injunction.

Under the U.S. Constitution, governmental power is divided equally ...