New filings announced last week aim to stop the Trump administration from further restricting federal grant fund access meant to help crime victims and those suffering from domestic violence.
Last July, 17 states joined Rhode Island in the lawsuit against the Trump administration over unlawfully restricting grant funds, Bucks County Beacon reported.
“In the filings, the coalition argues that the administration’s new conditions exceed Department of Justice’s authority, violate the Constitution, conflict with statutory requirements protecting communities in vulnerable situations and unlawfully leverage the threat of False Claims Act liability to pressure providers to alter their programming and speech,” a Democracy Forward press release said.
The request to the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island aims to block the Trump-Vance administration from enforcing unlawful new restrictions on grants issued to help victims of domestic violence and other crimes, the press release said.
“This administration continues to seek ways to deprive people and communities in vulnerable situations from accessing government services and vital funding that Congress saw fit to approve. This does not make anyone’s lives better, and yet continues to traumatize service providers committed to serving those most in need,” said Robin Thurson, legal director at Democracy Forward.
The amended complaint may be found here.
The motion for temporary restraining order may be found here.
“Each additional attempt by the federal government to restrict funding for these life-saving services – now weaponizing citizenship status to exclude survivors from receiving support – is as cruel and unlawful as the last. We will continue to use every legal avenue to defend this funding,” said Steven Brown, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island.
Jennifer Locker, executive director of A Woman’s Place in Doylestown Township previously said a July Bucks County Beacon report, that about 76% of the organization’s hotline and safe house funding is fueled by federal grants.
READ: New Bucks County Sheriff Puts Community Safety First by Ending ICE ‘Task Force Model’ Partnership
According to a previously published Bucks County Beacon report Sheriff Danny Ceisler, who was sworn into office last month, said the danger domestic violence events pose to residents and deputies alike is among the “largest issues any sheriff faces.”
Ceisler was voted in to replace ousted former Sheriff Fred Harran. During his campaign, Ceisler said Harran had moved the department away from performing its regular duties after signing a controversial Immigration and Customs Enforcement 287(g) “task force multiplier model” and training more than a dozen deputies to serve as “de facto” ICE agents.
“Funding for victims of crime has supported lifesaving services for domestic violence and sexual assault survivors and strengthened communities nationwide. These grants help sustain shelters, crisis response services, legal assistance, prevention programs and coordinated community efforts that victims rely on in moments of profound danger. The administration’s new restrictions threaten to undermine that work, create confusion and fear among providers and survivors alike and place critical resources at risk,” the Democracy Forward press release said.
