New Jersey is joining 21 other state attorneys general in a lawsuit to recover more than $1 billion in federal funds intended for crime victims and survivors. The coalition says the Trump administration is unlawfully withholding the grants unless states comply with its immigration enforcement requirements.
Background on VOCA and its purpose
The lawsuit, filed Monday in Rhode Island’s federal district court, cites that Congress passed the Victims of Crime Act more than 40 years ago to address the criminal justice system’s long-standing neglect of crime victims, which a presidential task force once called a “national disgrace.”
“First put in place by Ronald Reagan after a study of how victims of crime were treated in this country uncovered widespread systemic failures and how we support those who have endured these unimaginable traumas,” New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin said during a virtual press conference.
VOCA set up grant programs to help states provide critical services to victims and survivors, including advocacy, emergency shelter, forensic exams for sexual assault, medical and funeral expenses and compensation for lost wages. The complaint says all of these programs total more than $1 billion this year alone, which have helped states support public safety and assist victims.
Between 2021 and 2024, states used VOCA funds to aid an average of 8.5 million crime victims annually and paid more than 200,000 claims each year for victims’ losses.
Allegations against the Trump administration
“Playing politics with the lives of people who have suffered so greatly is reckless, it is cruel, and in this case, it is illegal,” said Platkin. We are filing suit today to stand up for our residents and for the law, which prevents these unlawful conditions on congressionally authorized funding. We look forward to blocking these conditions and preventing further harms to crime victims.”
The lawsuit claims the Trump administration, through the Department of Justice, is conditioning federal crime victim funds on states’ cooperation with its immigration enforcement priorities. To receive the grants, states would have to assist the Department of Homeland Security with civil immigration enforcement.
Sanctuary jurisdictions and federal enforcement
On Aug. 5, the Department of Justice released an updated list of sanctuary jurisdictions, which it says hinder federal immigration enforcement. The list includes states such as California, Colorado, Delaware, Illinois, Rhode Island and Oregon. The DOJ has also filed lawsuits against various states and cities, arguing their sanctuary policies conflict with federal law.
The filing argues that this approach violates basic principles of federalism and separation of powers. According to the coalition, Congress did not authorize the Justice Department to tie these grant programs to states’ participation in immigration enforcement.
The lawsuit is co-led by the attorneys general of New Jersey, California, Delaware, Illinois and Rhode Island and is supported by a coalition of 16 additional states and the District of Columbia. They are asking a judge to issue an injunction to block the Trump administration from withholding the funds.
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Author: Cole Lauterbach
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