The cities of Chelsea and Somerville, located in Massachusetts, have filed a federal lawsuit against the administration of President Donald Trump. The legal action seeks to stop the government's pressures for them to cooperate in mass deportation operations of migrants. Represented by Lawyers for Civil Rights, the cities argue that the threats from the Republican government, which include the suspension of federal funds and potential legal sanctions, violate their constitutional rights.
Chelsea has maintained its status as a sanctuary city since 1987, while Somerville has done so since 2007. Both cities have received warnings from the Department of Justice and the Department of Transportation about potential sanctions and funding freezes if they continue to maintain sanctuary policies.
According to Oren Sellstrom, a lawyer with Lawyers for Civil Rights, "the president cannot use federal funds as a weapon to force local governments to undermine their own safety and values." Chelsea's city manager, Fidel Maltez, emphasized the importance of not allowing residents to be deterred from reporting crimes for fear of deportation.
For her part, Somerville's mayor, Katjana Ballantyne, pointed out that "intimidating sanctuary cities is not just an attack on immigrants, but on all citizens and constitutional rights." Both cities receive significant federal funding for education, community services, and public safety, and they argue that cooperation between local police and federal immigration agents would negatively impact public safety by deterring victims and witnesses from reporting crimes.
Since his arrival at the White House, Trump has issued executive orders to withhold federal funds from cities that refuse to cooperate with immigration authorities. In fiscal year 2024, Chelsea received approximately $14.5 million in federal funds, while Somerville obtained nearly $19.4 million, highlighting the importance of this situation for both communities.