Photo: WBZ NewsRadio Archive
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — The cities of Somerville and Chelsea asked a federal court Tuesday to block the Trump administration from stripping them of federal funding amid ongoing lawsuit.
In a joint statement, lawyers representing the cities said the Trump administration was retaliating against them for refusing to participate in “mass deportation efforts.” They urged the court to bar the government’s efforts to “de-fund” them.
In February, the cities filed a lawsuit against the government over threats of withholding federal funding, saying that it is a violation of their Constitutional rights.
This comes as the government continues to target cities around Massachusetts over sanctuary city policies.
“We know that stripping cities of their rights erodes everyone’s rights,” Somerville Mayor Katjana Ballantyne said. “And we know that withholding federal funding for no good reason threatens the health and safety of all residents. This isn’t something you should have to fight for in court—but Somerville will continue to stand up for our rights.”
Chelsea City Manager Fidel Maltez reiterated that sentiment, adding their city was “built by immigrants” and will continue to protect and serve every resident regardless of immigration status.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security issued a notice last week to sanctuary cities in 36 states, including to either change their status or “face consequences.”
“These sanctuary city politicians are endangering Americans and our law enforcement in order to protect violent criminal illegal aliens,” DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said in a statement. “Sanctuary politicians are on notice: comply with federal law.”
Somerville and Chelsea have identified as sanctuary cities since 1987 and 2007, respectively.
“The President cannot use federal funding as a weapon to force local governments to undermine public safety and participate in his mass deportation efforts,” Attorney Oren Sellstrom, who is representing the cities in the case, said.
Last year, Somerville received around $19.4 million in federal funding to support public safety infrastructures. Meanwhile, Chelsea received around $14.5 million for education and downtown renovations.
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