DOJ asks Supreme Court to allow policy that blocks grants to ‘sanctuary cities’

June 18 (UPI) — The Justice Department asked the Supreme Court for a stay on a federal judge’s that blocks the law enforcement agency from denying grants to cities based on immigration policy.

The emergency application, filed by Solicitor General Noel Francisco, seeks to block a Chicago judge’s decision that prohibits the Justice Department from giving grants to “sanctuary cities,” which is an indefinite term adopted by some cities to designate they utilize policies aimed at prohibiting federal agencies from implementing immigration laws.

Back in September, U.S. District Judge Harry D. Leinenweber ruled that Attorney General Jeff Sessions likely overstepped his authority when he urged sanctuary cities to give federal immigration officials access to jails or alert when a suspected undocumented immigrant is scheduled for release.

But on Monday, the Justice Department filed an emergency application that asks Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan to limit the effect of Leinenweber’s decision to the Chicago area.

According to Politico, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals previously rejected the Justice Department’s request to limit Leinenweber’s decision to the Chicago area.