Somerville Sues Trump Over Immigration Laws

SOMERVILLE, MA — The city announced it has filed a federal lawsuit Monday against President Donald Trump’s administration, accusing it of violating Constitutional rights of the sanctuary city by threatening to cut federal funding if it does not take part in mass deportation efforts.

Somerville has identified itself as a sanctuary city since 1987. City leadership expressed its belief that sanctuary cities are inherently safer as residents are more willing to report crimes without the fear of local authorities working with federal immigration. The city cited two of Trump’s Executive Orders: “Protecting the American People Against Invasion” and “Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Open Borders” as the basis for its lawsuit.

City Attorney Oren Sellstrom asserted that the President cannot use federal funding as leverage to force local governments to cooperate.

“Bullying sanctuary cities is not just an assault on immigrants or cities—it’s an assault on all of us, on state and local rights, on the economy, and the Constitution. So, Somerville is standing up for what is both lawful and right,” Mayor Katjana Ballantyne said. “And we know politicized withholding of federal funding threatens the health and safety of all residents be it your neighbor who relies on Meals on Wheels for dinner or your kids who need road investments for a safer walk to school…This isn’t something you should have to fight for in court—but that is what we are stepping up to do.”

The City of Chelsea also filed a federal lawsuit. It has been a sanctuary city since 2007.