A federal judge in California dealt a fresh blow to Donald Trump’s immigration agenda earlier in the week, striking down two executive orders aimed at cutting federal funds from sanctuary cities.
U.S. District Judge William Orrick ruled that Trump’s orders—titled “Protecting the American People Against Invasion” and “Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Open Borders”—violated the Constitution on multiple fronts, including the separation of powers, the Spending Clause, and the Fifth and Tenth Amendments. The orders, issued earlier this year, had directed Attorney General Pam Bondi and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to strip funding from jurisdictions refusing to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement, reported Fox News.
In a sharply worded opinion, Orrick said the measures were “unconstitutionally vague” and amounted to coercion of local governments. He warned that the threat of funding cuts caused “irreparable injury” by upending local budgets and undermining community trust.
The ruling immediately reignited a familiar line of attack from Trump and his allies, who have long accused the judiciary of politicized obstruction. Orrick, an Obama appointee, has a well-documented history of Democratic activism. Federal Election Commission records show he contributed more than $113,000 to Democratic campaigns, including major donations to Barack Obama, John Kerry, Hillary Clinton, Bill Clinton, and Sen. Dianne Feinstein. He also co-chaired major Bay Area fundraising efforts for Kerry and Obama and introduced Kamala Harris at a 2009 fundraiser during her run for San Francisco district attorney.
Trump wasted little time blasting the decision, accusing the courts of “sabotaging” his efforts to enforce immigration law. His administration had cast the funding orders as critical leverage over so-called “sanctuary cities” that shield illegal immigrants from federal authorities.
Orrick isn’t the first Democratic-activist-turned-federal-judge to try and stop Trump. A judge in Connecticut recently tried to force the White House to end its federal freeze on spending, but on a closer look, it became apparent he simply was a Democratic activist and fundraiser looking to block policies he didn’t like.
John J. McConnell, Jr. judicial appointment in 2011 was met with fierce opposition from Senate Republicans, who scrutinized his history of throwing money around. Between 1993 and his confirmation, McConnell and his wife contributed nearly $700,000 to Democratic campaigns and committees, including substantial donations to the two Rhode Island senators—Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse—who recommended him for the bench. His contributions far exceeded those of other judicial nominees, leading critics to question whether his judicial role was influenced by partisan loyalty.
“This gentleman is one of the largest fundraisers to the Democratic cause,” said Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) during McConnell’s confirmation battle. “I think there well could be the appearance [of] a conflict of interest there.”
Orrick’s ruling is expected to be appealed and is expected to be overturned.
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Every activist federal judge should have their political contributions investigated. When it shows that the judge consistently rules in favor of their affiliated political party they should be removed from the bench. Nothing exposes a violation of the oath they took to be fair and unbiased in their decisions more than huge one sided political contributions. Their decisions MUST be due to the fact sand nature of the Constitution and it’s laws. Judges are not Legislators they are enforcers of the laws passed by the Legislature. When they try to interfere or manipulate the laws they should be removed from their positions.
Vet all district judges alone in Fed Govt ALL
Any bets that john roberts (scotus type, not the fox reporter) will still assert that there is No Such Thing As LIBERAL judges, in spite of all of the evidence (monetary contributions for just one example) to the contrary. I won’t even go into ‘judges’ (finally!) getting arrested for aiding and abetting illegals.