States sue over Victims of Crime Act grant funding

States sue over Victims of Crime Act grant funding

(The Center Square) — Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser has joined a 20-state coalition and Washington, D.C., suing the Trump administration over restrictions it has put on Victims of Crime Act grants.

The funding in jeopardy, which has already been appropriated by Congress, totals more than a billion dollars.

The Justice Department has declared that states will not be able to access Victims of Crime Act funding unless they agree to support the administration’s immigration enforcement.

The lawsuit called these “unprecedented conditions.”

“Tying congressionally mandated funds for crime victim support to immigration conditions not authorized by Congress is wrong and an illegal overreach by the Justice Department,” said Weiser.

The Victims of Crime Act was first enacted in 1984. Administered by the U.S. Department of Justice, the grant programs help fund a wide variety of programs including victim and witness advocacy services, emergency shelter, crime scene cleanup, sexual assault forensic exams, and medical, funeral and burial expenses.

“Withholding these funds will retraumatize crime victims and survivors who are trying to pick up the pieces and rebuild their lives,” Weiser said. “And this stunning action by the administration does not make communities safer.”

In 2024 alone, Colorado’s Office for Victims Programs received over $21 million in funding from Victims of Crime Acts grants. Funding is distributed to states based on fixed statutory formulas.

To continue receiving the funding, Colorado must comply with immigration efforts by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Colorado is joined on the lawsuit by New Jersey, California, Delaware, Illinois, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia.

Colorado has been a critical player in the coalition of Democratic states fighting against the many cuts pushed by the Republicans. So far, Colorado has joined or filed 35 lawsuits against the Trump administration.

Currently Colorado and its capital city Denver have been under scrutiny for their so-called sanctuary city policies, which limits their cooperation with federal immigration authorities.

Notably, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston joined four other sanctuary city mayors in testifying before a U.S. House Oversight and Government Reform committee in March on the issue, as previously reported by The Center Square.

More recently, the U.S. Department of Justice released a list of “states, cities, and counties identified as having policies, laws, or regulations that impede enforcement of federal immigration laws.”

Colorado and Denver were both on that list.

“Sanctuary policies impede law enforcement and put American citizens at risk by design,” said U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “The Department of Justice will continue bringing litigation against sanctuary jurisdictions and work closely with the Department of Homeland Security to eradicate these harmful policies around the country.”

Weiser is confident the lawsuit will be successful.

“We sued in the first Trump administration when it attempted a similar tactic with law enforcement grants, and we won,” he said. “I’m confident we’ll win again.”

Events

No events

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

WCO Board Aug 21.4

After Initial Rejection and Tense Debate, Board Reconsiders and Approves Contested DuPage Township Business

Article Summary: In a rare reversal, the Will County Board approved a special use permit for a landscaping business in a residential area of DuPage Township after the measure initially...
Meeting Briefs

Meeting Summary and Briefs: Will County Board for August 21, 2025

The Will County Board received County Executive Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant’s proposed $791 million budget for fiscal year 2026, which holds the line on the property tax levy while funding key services....
Will County Recorder Graphic.1

Will County Board Approves New Fee Schedule for Recorder of Deeds

Article Summary: The Will County Board has approved a revised fee schedule for the Recorder of Deeds office, which will take effect on October 1, 2025. The changes, based on...
WCO Board Aug 21.3

Will County Board Formally Opposes Heavier, Longer Trucks on National Roadways

Article Summary: The Will County Board unanimously passed a resolution opposing any federal legislation that would increase the size and weight limits for commercial trucks on the nation's roadways. The...
will county board meeting graphic.5

Will County Board Approves Permits for Landscaping Business and Restaurant Liquor Service in Frankfort Area

Article SummaryThe Will County Board unanimously approved three separate special use permits for businesses in the Frankfort area, allowing a landscaping operation in Green Garden Township to continue and two...
will county board meeting.6

Crete Township Community Center to Get New Digital Sign

Article Summary: The Will County Board approved a special use permit and two variances for Crete Township, allowing for the installation of a new on-premise dynamic display sign at its...
will county board meeting.6

Will County Awards $1.46 Million Contract for Kankakee Street Bridge Replacement in Manhattan Township

Article SummaryThe Will County Board has awarded a $1.46 million contract to "D" Construction, Inc. of Coal City to replace the Kankakee Street Bridge over Jackson Creek in Manhattan Township....
will county board meeting graphic.5

Board Approves Engineering Contracts for Mokena Road Widening

Article SummaryThe Will County Board approved over $1.1 million in supplemental engineering contracts to advance the ongoing 80th Avenue improvement project in Mokena. The additional funding addresses project delays and...
WCO Board Aug 21.1

Will County Executive Proposes $791 Million Budget Focused on Stability Amidst Economic Uncertainty

Article Summary: Will County Executive Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant presented a balanced $791 million budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2026 that aims to maintain services and prepare for potential economic challenges without...
Screenshot-2025-08-19-at-6.09.01-PM

Peotone School Board Rejects Mandating Live-Streaming in 4-3 Vote

Article Summary: The Peotone school board has opted against requiring its meetings to be live-streamed, finalizing a new committee policy after a 4-3 vote defeated the mandate. The decision followed...
WATCH: Detransitioner gets a second chance at medical malpractice lawsuit

WATCH: Detransitioner gets a second chance at medical malpractice lawsuit

By Carleen JohnsonThe Center Square A young woman whose detransition story has been one of the most widely covered in the nation will soon learn if a judge in North...
WATCH: CA Democrats pass congressional redistricting plan

WATCH: CA Democrats pass congressional redistricting plan

By Dave MasonThe Center Square After a day of vigorous debates punctuated by occasional applause, both houses of the California Legislature Thursday passed the three bills making up the congressional...
Pew: U.S. immigrant population declines for first time in nearly 60 years

Pew: U.S. immigrant population declines for first time in nearly 60 years

By Caroline BodaThe Center Square The U.S.’s foreign-born population shrunk this year for the first time since the 1960s, new data released Thursday from the nonpartisan Pew Research Center found....
WATCH: Illinois’ FY23 financial audit released amid criticism of tardy reports

WATCH: Illinois’ FY23 financial audit released amid criticism of tardy reports

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois taxpayers can now look at how the state spent their money in the fiscal year that...
European Union says U.S. consumers will end up paying tariffs

European Union says U.S. consumers will end up paying tariffs

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square European Union leaders detailed the terms of a trade deal they struck with President Donald Trump on Thursday, making sure to point out who will...