Scores of “sanctuary” cities, counties and states for undocumented immigrants are vowing to defy President Donald Trump’s executive order, issued last month, that threatens to block their federal funding, even as they—along with construction-industry interests—struggle to determine exactly how the edict would affect funds already earmarked for local infrastructure projects or expected for future ones.
Santa Clara County, Calif., on Feb. 23 filed suit in federal district court in San Francisco, seeking a nationwide preliminary injunction to block federal agencies from withholding federal funds to those municipalities that won’t participate in the administration’s expanded federal immigration enforcement and deportation efforts. Trump spokesman Sean Spicer said agencies would “unapologetically enforce the law, no ifs, ands or buts.” The county, which includes Silicon Valley communities, charges that the Jan. 25 order is unconstitutional. San Francisco filed a similar suit earlier this month.