TRENTON, N.J. — New Jersey is suing the Trump administration again. This time, two new lawsuits have been filed, adding to the nearly two dozen already active lawsuits ongoing against the President by the state.
New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin co-led a coalition of 20 attorneys general in filing two lawsuits on Monday challenging recent federal actions by the Trump Administration that threaten to withhold billions of dollars in public safety and infrastructure funding unless states agree to assist in federal immigration enforcement.
The lawsuits, filed against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), and their respective secretaries, Kristi Noem and Sean Duffy, argue that the new funding conditions imposed by the federal agencies are unlawful and exceed their statutory authority.
“By illegally threatening federal funding for infrastructure, emergency management, and even counterterrorism efforts, the Trump Administration is putting the lives of our residents at risk,” said Attorney General Platkin. “These threats are outrageous, and they are unlawful.”
The challenged directives condition state and local access to FEMA and DOT grant funds on a requirement to assist with federal civil immigration enforcement — a shift the coalition of states says violates both statutory limitations and constitutional principles.
Lawsuits target FEMA and DOT funding restrictions
One lawsuit, filed against DHS and FEMA, targets a February directive by Secretary Noem ordering a halt to federal funding to jurisdictions that do not assist in federal immigration enforcement. FEMA subsequently added immigration enforcement clauses to new grant terms, affecting funds for counterterrorism, disaster relief, and emergency preparedness.
In the second suit, the coalition challenges USDOT Secretary Duffy’s March directive requiring cooperation with federal immigration enforcement as a condition for receiving transportation funds. Applicants have since reported similar language appearing in terms for grants administered by the Federal Railroad Administration, the Federal Highway Administration, and the Federal Transit Administration.
New Jersey receives over $2 billion annually from these programs. The coalition argues the Trump Administration’s actions put critical projects — including bridge repairs, airport safety improvements, and flood mitigation — at risk.
States allege overreach and public safety threats
According to the lawsuits, both FEMA and DOT lack the legal authority to impose the immigration enforcement conditions on congressionally appropriated funds. The attorneys general argue that federal agencies cannot override legislative intent by conditioning unrelated federal aid on immigration policy compliance.
The coalition also raises concerns that these conditions could erode trust between law enforcement and immigrant communities, undermining public safety and cooperation in criminal investigations.
Platkin and the other state attorneys general contend that redirecting limited law enforcement resources away from priorities like gun violence and domestic abuse to focus on civil immigration enforcement is detrimental to community safety.
The lawsuits seek to block enforcement of the new funding terms and preserve states’ access to the federal dollars without the added immigration enforcement requirements.
Attorney General Platkin is leading legal efforts to stop new federal conditions that tie emergency and transportation funding to state immigration enforcement cooperation.
