Santa Clara County files lawsuit against Trump’s funding cuts

Santa Clara County and several cities have filed a lawsuit against President Donald Trump's plans to cut funding for "sanctuary" cities and counties. These jurisdictions limit the cooperation of local police with federal immigration authorities. The lawsuit was filed in a federal court in California, aiming to temporarily stop Trump’s funding cuts. County officials argue these cuts would violate constitutional rights and are harmful to public services like health care and education. Santa Clara County's budget heavily relies on federal funds, receiving about $3.6 billion a year, which is a third of its total budget. Trump's administration claims sanctuary cities hinder federal efforts to remove illegal immigrants. The legal action seeks to prevent funding cuts expected from an executive order issued by Trump soon after he took office. In addition to Santa Clara County, cities like San Francisco, San Jose, and Oakland have joined the lawsuit. A court hearing is scheduled for April 23. This legal challenge continues a long-standing conflict between Trump and Democratic-led cities over immigration policies. California previously passed a sanctuary law, which restricts local police from aiding immigration enforcement. In 2017, similar funding cuts were attempted, but local governments, including Santa Clara County, successfully challenged them in court.