Washington joins 19 states in lawsuits over immigration funding threats

Washington State Attorney General Nick Brown has joined 19 other state attorneys general in filing two separate lawsuits against the Trump administration. The lawsuits challenge federal threats to unlawfully withhold funding from states that do not assist with the federal government’s immigration enforcement efforts.

The first lawsuit targets the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem. The second lawsuit is directed at the Department of Transportation (DOT) and DOT Secretary Sean Duffy.

According to Brown’s office, both agencies have imposed sweeping new conditions that would force states and state agencies to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement. If they refuse, they risk losing billions in federal funding used to protect public safety and maintain critical infrastructure.

“The president is once again acting illegally, threatening federal funding cuts without authority,” Brown said. “But the Trump administration cannot retaliate against our state for protecting the rights and dignity of all residents. Our state joined these two lawsuits because the federal funding threats present real and direct harms to our state.”

In 2024 alone, Washington received more than $500 million in DHS funding and over $1.1 billion in federal transportation funding. These funds support a wide range of essential services, including wildfire response, cybersecurity improvements, public safety at major events such as the 2026 World Cup, and earthquake preparedness.

In addition to Washington, the lawsuits are backed by attorneys general from California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin.

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