Civil Discourse – A Rhode Island Judge Tells Trump “No” – Joyce Vance – June 19, 2025

And it’s a very important “no”

Tonight, I want to focus on a case you probably haven’t heard about, California v. Department of Transportation. It was brought by Democratic state attorneys general from across the country in the District of Rhode Island. Today, District Judge John McConnell, Jr., dealt the Trump administration a major loss in the case, which will stymie its efforts to coerce states into supporting its immigration policies. The Judge entered a preliminary injunction that prevents the administration from withholding Department of Transportation funding from states that refuse to help the administration enforce its interpretation of immigration laws.

In April, Trump’s Transportation Secretary, Sean Duffy, issued the “Duffy directive,” which requires states that are recipients of transportation grants to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations. It provides that states lose funding if they don’t comply with the administration’s “Immigration Enforcement Condition” (IEC), which conditions the provision of transportation funding for states across the country on cooperation with federal immigration efforts. DOT funding supports construction, maintenance, and improvement of transportation infrastructure and related services. Its loss is no small thing.

In today’s order, Judge McConnell ordered the administration to stop enforcing the IEC and prohibited it from withholding or terminating federal funding on that basis.

Of course, the Trump administration is free to and undoubtedly will appeal the injunction. But Judge McConnell specifically noted that the court will retain jurisdiction to monitor the Trump administration’s compliance with this preliminary injunction. The Judge also denied the administration’s request to stay this Order.

Rhode Island is in the First Circuit Court of Appeals, which also includes Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Puerto Rico. In March, the First Circuit ruled against Trump’s efforts to cancel birthright citizenship.

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