Somerville Files Injunction Against Trump Amid Lawsuit

SOMERVILLE, MA — The city asked a federal court to block President Donald Trump and his administration’s attempts to strip it of federal funding as a punishment for the city’s refusal to participate in the administration’s mass deportation effort Tuesday.

Along with the city of Chelsea, Somerville filed the injunction after the Department of Homeland Security told dozens of Massachusetts communities that they must adhere to their commands or face consequences.

In February, the city filed a lawsuit against Trump saying that the mandates violate Constitutional rights. Trump has issued three Executive Orders since his inauguration that threaten to cut off funding to sanctuary cities.

“The President cannot use federal funding as a weapon to force local governments to undermine public safety and participate in his mass deportation efforts,” City Attorney Oren Sellstrom said. “By today’s preliminary injunction motion, we seek to protect sanctuary and welcoming cities, so they can continue to make public safety decisions that are in the best interests of their residents.”

Somerville has identified itself as a sanctuary city since 1987.