Judge Rules Justice Department Cannot Tie State Grants to Immigration Enforcement

A federal judge in Providence, Rhode Island, ruled on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, that the Justice Department cannot require states to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement in order to receive grants that support law enforcement and juvenile justice programs. Chief US District Judge John McConnell ruled from the bench in favor of 22 states and the District of Columbia, Reuters reported.

McConnell held that the conditions the Justice Department imposed on the grants are unlawful. He permanently enjoined the department from implementing or enforcing the conditions. The Justice Department did not respond to a request for comment, Reuters reported.

What the ruling covers

The affected programs include the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Formula Grants, which provide criminal justice funding to state and local governments. The ruling therefore reaches money that states and cities use for core law enforcement work, not a side program.

New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport co-led the coalition in the amended lawsuit, which was filed in the District of Rhode Island. In a statement, Davenport said "the federal government cannot unlawfully politicize law enforcement and public safety by threatening our access to critical funding." Her office said the funding at stake helps pay for protective equipment for law enforcement, drug trafficking enforcement and work to find violent criminals.

McConnell was appointed by Democratic President Barack Obama. The case is State of New Jersey et al v. United States Department of Justice et al, US District Court for the District of Rhode Island, No. 25-cv-00404.

How the case reached this ruling

The case began in August 2025 as a challenge to immigration related conditions placed on access to more than $1.3 billion in Victims of Crime Act grant funding. After the coalition sued, the federal government removed those Victims of Crime Act conditions. The Justice Department then applied similar conditions to new grants, including law enforcement and juvenile justice funds, and the fight moved to those programs.

Wednesday's ruling settles that second round in the states' favor at the district court level. The permanent injunction means the conditions cannot be put into effect while the ruling stands. The Justice Department has not said, in the reporting available on Wednesday, whether it will appeal.

For the 22 states and the District of Columbia that sued, the immediate effect is practical. Grant funding for law enforcement and juvenile justice programs flows without the immigration enforcement cooperation condition that the court found unlawful.