Full Breakdown
Federal Courts Reject Trump Administration’s Attempts to Compel Local Immigration Enforcement
8/22/2026, 6:01:08 AM
Core Event: Dismissal of the Washtenaw County Lawsuit
On a Friday in August 2026, U.S. District Judge F. Kay Behm dismissed the Trump administration’s lawsuit against Washtenaw County, Michigan. The suit, filed on April 9 2026, sought to invalidate the county’s sanctuary policies—including a resolution barring ICE agents from county property without a warrant. Judge Behm concluded that the federal government had not shown that the Immigration and Nationality Act requires localities to enforce the President’s immigration priorities and that the county was exercising its Tenth-Amendment authority.
Background & Context
Since President Donald Trump’s second term began, the administration has filed at least 14 lawsuits—identified by the Immigration Policy Tracking Project—aimed at forcing states and municipalities to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement. Courts have repeatedly rejected the claim that the INA preempts local restrictions, emphasizing the constitutional limits on federal commandeering of local officials.
New Jersey Attorneys General Challenge Grant Conditions
In a related action, New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport and a coalition of state attorneys general filed an amended lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Rhode Island. The complaint alleges that the Justice Department attached four “Immigration Enforcement Conditions” to federal law-enforcement grants awarded in July 2026. Conditions include mandatory reporting to DHS when a detainee is released at DHS request and prohibitions on officials from blocking DHS interrogations. The coalition argues the conditions are “arbitrary and capricious,” violating the Administrative Procedure Act and the Constitution’s spending clause, and seeks an injunction.
Data & Statistics
- The DOJ’s Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (Byrne JAG) Program has provided New Jersey law-enforcement agencies with more than $21 million between 2019 and 2024.
- A prior attempt to condition Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funds was halted after the coalition forced the DOJ to withdraw the conditions, preserving over $1.3 billion in VOCA funding.
- The Washtenaw County case is the latest of at least 14 similar federal actions filed nationwide, many of which have been dismissed.
Official Statements & Responses
- Judge F. Kay Behm (U.S. District Court) ruled the administration had not met its burden under the INA.
- The U.S. Department of Justice declined comment on both the Washtenaw ruling and the New Jersey grant-condition lawsuit.
- Sheriff Alyshia M. Dyer of Washtenaw County stressed her office’s focus on public safety, not politics, and reaffirmed the county’s commitment to constitutional rights.
- Attorney General Jennifer Davenport called the grant conditions an “outrageous maneuver” that threatens programs protecting officers, supporting juvenile-justice initiatives, and combating drug trafficking.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The Constitution imparts much authority on the federal government,” — F. Kay Behm, judge
- “This is an outrageous maneuver that uses our dedicated law enforcement personnel as pawns in a political game,” — Jennifer Davenport, attorney
These statements capture the legal reasoning of the judge, the criticism from New Jersey officials, and the administration’s broader enforcement strategy.
