New Jersey v. Department of Justice
Legal Issues
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Overview
Overview
A coalition of states sued the Trump administration over the requirement that states agree to assist with federal immigration enforcement before they can access Victims of Crime Act funds, which help states provides resources and services to victims and survivors of crime.
The Issue
Issue
Whether the federal government may condition access to Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funds on states' agreement to assist with federal immigration enforcement.
The Rules
Rule
Under the Spending Clause and South Dakota v. Dole, Congress may condition federal funds on state compliance if unambiguously stated and related to the spending program's purpose; the Anti-Commandeering Doctrine further prohibits the federal government from compelling states to enforce federal law or regulations.
The Application
Analysis
The Trump administration's requirement that states assist with immigration enforcement to access VOCA funds, which provides services to crime victims, raises whether this condition bears a rational relationship to VOCA's purpose, whether it unconstitutionally commandeers state resources, and whether withholding critical victim services constitutes coercive conditional spending.
The Conclusion
Conclusion
The case is active in federal district court under Judge John J. McConnell Jr.; resolution requires determination of whether the spending condition satisfies the Dole test and does not violate the Anti-Commandeering Doctrine.
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