Cities that block ICE could lose police, rape kit funding, DOJ says

[riversedge]

Source: USA today



Nick Penzenstadler Updated July 16, 2026, 8:43 a.m. ET




The Trump administration is threatening to withhold federal grant money from cities that do not cooperate with ICE, putting programs such as police body‑armor, ambulance services and the $350 million Sexual Assault Kit Initiative at risk, while several cities prepare lawsuits.
Fresno City Attorney Andrew Janz was furious to learn that the Trump administration is threatening to withhold grant money the city uses to help prosecute rapists — all because the California city was deemed a refuge for immigrants.

"Justice for victims shouldn’t be politicized. It has nothing to do with immigration enforcement," Janz told USA TODAY.


It’s the latest example of the Trump administration’s promise to withhold funding from cities it calls "sanctuary jurisdictions." It pressures cities to sign cooperation agreements with Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials with the strongest tool at its disposal: money.

There will be no federal funds for bulletproof vests for cops in Santa Cruz, California, the city alleged in a lawsuit. No ambulances for paramedics in Beaverton, Oregon. And now, no money for police departments to process rape kits in Fresno, as the administration threatens to withhold federal grants for critical services from cities that won't sign deals to work with ICE.

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In Santa Cruz, California, FEMA grants, policing grants and a water-supply project to build drought resiliency are all in jeopardy if the government continues to threaten to withhold funds, wrote the city’s Finance Director Elizabeth Cabell. She painted a bleak picture: layoffs for city employees and cuts to basic city services, like reliably providing water and hardening the city against natural disasters, such as wildfires and earthquakes.............

Read more: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2026/07/16/us-cities-police-ambulance-funding-rape-kits-ice-doj/90903355007/

[samnsara]

1. see ya in court!

[bluestarone]

2. We are witnessing the biggest, dirtiest blackmail, RAPIST government ever in America!!

Jesus Christ VOTE these fuckers OUT!!

[liberalgunwilltravel]

3. Not your call

Department of Rapist and Pedophile Protectors.

[GiqueCee]

4. Trump's Schutzstaffel...

... is going full-court press to establish their unquestioned dominance, and immunity from ANY accountability. Christ, Mr. Potatohead Homan just threatened Democrats with more bloodshed unless they shut their mouths! That can only mean Democratic politicians, 'cause what can ordinary citizens do to him? Nada. Zip. Zero. Zilch. But Democratic politicians with the cojones to stand up to that miserable turd – oh, that's another story altogether!

[2naSalit]

5. Yet another threat!

Fuck these assholes!

[chowder66]

6. The PRO-RAPE AND the REAL defund the police administration.

With a dash of death panels.

[Quiet Em]

7. These are sick, deranged, creepy people

and it's time to loudly call them that.