In a ruling that could mark a turning point in the Trump Administration’s ongoing battle against sanctuary cities, a federal judge in Boston has sided with the federal government, allowing it to withhold grant funding from two Massachusetts cities—Chelsea and Somerville—over their refusal to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement.
The decision, handed down in early October by U.S. District Judge Nathaniel Gorton, represents a quiet but powerful victory for the Trump Administration’s America First approach to border security and immigration law. For years, liberal-run sanctuary jurisdictions have openly defied federal immigration authorities, harboring illegal immigrants while still demanding billions in federal taxpayer funding. That free ride may now be coming to an end.
At the heart of the case was whether President Trump’s administration could cut off grant funds to cities that refuse to comply with federal immigration law. Chelsea and Somerville argued that withholding the funds would cause “irreparable harm.” Judge Gorton wasn’t buying it. In a sharp rebuke to the cities’ lawyers, the judge ruled that they had failed to prove any such harm existed, pointing out that only one grant had been cancelled so far—and that claims of future losses were “speculative.”
In his decision, Judge Gorton wrote, *“Plaintiffs necessarily face, with or without an injunction, budgetary uncertainty when bidding for competitive grants. The net loss to the Cities absent a preliminary injunction is, arguably, zero.”* In other words: stop whining.
For the Trump Administration, the ruling affirms the president’s power to ensure that federal dollars aren’t being funneled to jurisdictions that openly obstruct U.S. law. Trump has long argued that cities refusing to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) shouldn’t receive funding from the very government they defy. It’s a matter of basic fairness — and national security.
But predictably, left-wing lawyers erupted in outrage. Oren Sellstrom of Lawyers for Civil Rights, who represented the two cities, accused Trump of “putting a gun to the head” of local governments by conditioning federal funding on compliance with immigration law. “That’s precisely the point,” he complained — apparently missing that federal law isn’t optional.
Somerville, which received $19.4 million in grants in 2024, has already lost $4 million as a result of its defiance. Chelsea, which took in $14.5 million last year, could lose as much as $8.5 million if it continues to stonewall federal immigration authorities. For cities that pride themselves on protecting illegal aliens over their own citizens, the financial hit may finally force a reality check.
This ruling isn’t just about two Massachusetts cities — it’s about restoring the rule of law in America’s immigration system. The Trump Administration’s policy is simple: if you want federal money, follow federal law. Sanctuary cities have operated for years as if they were above the Constitution, putting political virtue signaling ahead of public safety. Judge Gorton’s decision puts them on notice: Washington isn’t going to bankroll lawlessness anymore.
It’s a small win, yes — but one that could have massive implications nationwide. The message is clear: under President Trump, sanctuary cities can no longer have it both ways.
