In a ruling with national impact, a federal judge in Chicago on Friday blocked the
Trump administration's rules requiring so-called sanctuary cities to cooperate with immigration agents in order to get a public safety grant.
U.S. District Judge Harry Leinenweber wrote in his 41-page ruling that the city has shown a "likelihood of success" in its arguments that U.S. Attorney General
Jeff Sessions exceeded his authority in imposing new standards governing Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grants across the country.
He also said Mayor
Rahm Emanuel's administration has shown the city could suffer "irreparable harm" in its relationship with the immigrant community if it were to comply with the
U.S. Department of Justice's new standards.
"Once such trust is lost, it cannot be repaired through an award of money damages, making it the type of harm that is especially hard to rectify" if he were to wait until the lawsuit is settled, Leinenweber wrote.