New York Attorney General Letitia James, along with a coalition of 19 other state attorneys general, has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) over new policy conditions. The lawsuit challenges DHS's decision to tie disaster relief and emergency preparedness funding to states' participation in immigration enforcement. The attorneys general argue that this policy could undermine the ability of states to respond to disasters and could be unconstitutional.
According to a statement from Attorney General's Office, DHS's new stipulations demand that states either participate in civil immigration enforcement or risk losing billions for emergency preparedness, ranging from cybersecurity to recovery efforts post-natural disasters. As this unfolds, religious institutions and private schools, notably those receiving Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) funds to safeguard against extremist attacks, stand to lose critical support.
This threat of withheld funding comes at a time when states like New York depend on several key programs for maintaining public safety and disaster response measures. The affected programs include the State Homeland Security Program, Urban Area Security Initiative, and Emergency Management Performance Grant Program, all borne out of tragedies such as 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina, and designed to bolster national defense against a variety of threats.
As reported by Attorney General James, certain communities, especially nonprofit organizations that are not sitting flush with alternative funding streams, could find themselves particularly vulnerable if DHS proceeds with its plans to cut off NSGP funding. These grants are instrumental in implementing security measures such as surveillance systems, bomb-resistant architecture, and metal detectors, many tailored to protect against the surge of antisemitic violence targeting synagogues and Jewish educational institutions.
In New York specifically, the stakes are high. The state is poised to lose a significant portion of the $44 million in NSGP funding it received last year, as well as other essential resources for local emergency units including certified bomb squads and SWAT teams. In framing the lawsuit’s argument, Attorney General James and the coalition emphasize that the DHS directive undermines the relationship between immigrant communities and law enforcement agencies, potentially causing a rift that could affect the overall public safety.
The coalition of attorneys general contends that the DHS oversteps its authority by using disaster relief and emergency preparedness funds to press states into compliance with federal immigration policies. This lawsuit aims to secure a judicial ruling declaring these coercive measures unlawful, with the goal of ensuring that states can access emergency resources without compromising their principles or the well-being of their residents.
Joining New York in this legal challenge are the attorneys general from California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, Wisconsin, and Vermont. Together, they are advocating for the protection of emergency preparedness funding and the integrity of public safety measures.
