Maryland AG Joins Multistate Effort to Safeguard Law Enforcement Grants from Immigration Enforcement Requirements

Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown has joined a coalition of 22 other state attorneys general and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in an updated lawsuit challenging federal conditions placed on public safety grants. These grants, which are congressionally approved and intended to support law enforcement safety and crime prevention efforts, are allegedly being unlawfully tied to immigration enforcement demands. The coalition contends that these actions undermine public safety initiatives and overstep federal authority.

The lawsuit aims to prevent the federal government from using critical grant funding as leverage to compel states to undertake immigration enforcement duties, which are considered a federal responsibility. Last year, a similar effort successfully removed restrictive immigration conditions from over $1.3 billion in Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funds. However, the U.S. Department of Justice has reportedly reapplied these disputed conditions to new grant programs, including those vital for law enforcement and juvenile justice.

The affected grants include the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Formula Grants, commonly known as the Byrne JAG Program. This program, named after a fallen New York City police officer, has historically served as a primary federal source for criminal justice funding for state and local governments, irrespective of political administrations. In Maryland, these federal grants are instrumental in supporting a wide array of programs and services crucial for public safety, victim assistance, and the administration of justice. For instance, the Baltimore City Sheriff’s Office utilizes Byrne State Crisis Intervention Program funds for initiatives focused on firearm safe-storage education, community outreach, behavioral health referrals, and violence prevention. This specific program has reportedly reached over 17,000 individuals, engaged more than 10,400 participants, conducted numerous outreach events, provided extensive firearm safety training, and facilitated hundreds of referrals for essential supportive services.

The attorneys general involved argue that civil immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility and that the current administration’s attempts to coerce states into participating in these efforts violate fundamental principles of American governance, including the separation of powers and federalism. The lawsuit asserts that these actions contravene the Administrative Procedures Act and the Spending Clause of the U.S. Constitution. The coalition is seeking a judicial declaration that the federal government’s actions are unlawful and an injunction to permanently prevent the enforcement of these conditions. The coalition includes attorneys general from California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaiʻi, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin, alongside Pennsylvania.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from the Maryland Attorney General’s Office.

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