20 States And D.C. Sue DOJ Over $1B VOCA Cuts Tied To ICE Cooperation

A coalition of 20 state attorneys general and Washington, D.C., filed suit in Rhode Island to block the Justice Department from withholding more than $1 billion in Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funds unless jurisdictions cooperate with ICE detainers, facility access, and release notifications. Plaintiffs argue DOJ’s conditions exceed statutory authority and violate separation of powers. DOJ has recently labeled multiple jurisdictions as impeding immigration enforcement and threatened broader funding consequences. The case could set precedent on whether immigration enforcement conditions can be attached to victim-service grants.