Oregon “attorney general” Ellen Rosenblum is suing President Trump yet again. This is the 18th lawsuit filed against the president by the Oregon AG to generate publicity for herself since the suits have produced nothing else.
This time they are suing over the law enforcement money they no longer get as a sanctuary state. But, federal law enforcement has to spend more in sanctuary states and apprehend criminal illegal aliens under much more dangerous conditions as well. It is no stretch of the imagination, to say that the $2 million Oregon loses is less than the additional costs for ICE and the DHS in those states. But Oregon wants to do no work and get the money anyway.
Oregon Public Broadcasting reports:
Oregon sued the Trump administration Friday over a requirement the state work with immigration authorities if it wants to receive more than $4 million in federal grants.
The U.S. Department of Justice distributes Byrne JAG grants, which are used by jurisdictions across the country to help law enforcement fund new initiatives and fight crime.
Last November, the Department of Justice released a list of jurisdictions it says weren’t complying with 8 U.S.C. 1373, a federal law that promotes information sharing between local law enforcement and the federal government when it comes to immigration enforcement.
The list included both Multnomah County and the state of Oregon.
Oregon is a sanctuary state and prohibits local and state resources from enforcing federal immigration law if a person’s only crime is being the the country unlawfully.
“Defendants have implied in correspondence with Oregon officials that these statutes violate federal law by preventing cooperation between law enforcement and immigration authorities,” Oregon’s lawsuit states. “But in the statutes requiring Defendants to distribute Byrne JAG funds to states and localities, Congress did not impose any condition requiring states to have laws that aid Defendants’ implementation of federal immigration policy.”
In 2017, Oregon lawmakers passed another bill aimed and strengthening the state’s sanctuary law. That bill prohibits public agencies from releasing personal information for “the purpose of enforcement of federal immigration laws.” The statue makes exceptions for information required by state or federal law.
“For years, these grants have provided millions of dollars to law enforcement in Oregon,” Rosenblum said in a statement. “Suddenly these public safety funds have been withdrawn because Oregon will not submit to U.S. DOJ’s demand that Oregon participate in its immigration enforcement efforts.”
The U.S. DOJ withheld more than $2 million from the state in 2017, the lawsuit states. Oregon officials says they also don’t expect to receive the $2 million applied for this year.
California and Illinois have filed similar lawsuits.
If Oregon wants to release dangerous criminals onto the streets, then they should be willing to forego the law enforcement money that the president is giving to areas that cooperate with the feds. Taxpayers in Ohio should not have to foot the bill for Oregon letting criminals go.