L.A. Sues Federal Government Over Threats to Withhold Funds

Marking the latest legal challenge to the Trump administration's crackdown on "sanctuary cities," Los Angeles is suing the U.S. Department of Justice over its policy of conditioning federal funds on cooperation with immigration agents, reports the Los Angeles Times .

In a lawsuit filed Friday in U.S. District Court, City Atty. Mike Feuer alleges that the Justice Department decision to tie federal grants to immigration enforcement is unconstitutional.

The lawsuit cites the Community Oriented Policing Services program, which is administered by the federal government and designed to bolster community policing.

L.A. routinely applies for funds through the program and received $3.125 million last year, which helped hire 25 officers, according to Feuer's office.

Now, the Justice Department has changed the terms for cities seeking the funds, the lawsuit alleges. For example, jurisdictions that agree to "focus" the use of grant funds on "illegal immigration" are given bonus points during the application process, according to the lawsuit. That amounts to preferential treatment to those cities, the lawsuit suggests.