Judge Hands Mayor Johnson Victory in Battle Over Trump-Era Funding Freeze, Blocks $50 Million in Withheld Funds.
A US federal judge has ruled in favor of Chicago's Mayor Brandon Johnson's administration, granting a preliminary injunction that blocks the withholding of $50 million in federal funding from the city. The ruling comes after the Department of Homeland Security and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) attempted to terminate a program designed to reimburse cities for costs related to migrant care.
Chicago filed a lawsuit against these agencies in May 2023, citing a violation of the US Constitution and federal law. The city argued that a February 2025 funding freeze and subsequent termination of the program were inconsistent with Congress's priorities and facilitated illegal immigration.
The court's ruling prohibits FEMA from freezing funding or terminating the program on the basis of policy disagreements with Congress, finding that the administration's actions violated the separation of powers that gives Congress control over government spending. Corporation Counsel Mary Richardson-Lowry vowed to utilize "every legal tool available" to secure the $50 million in funding.
Chicago has already spent over $639.6 million to provide food and shelter for more than 51,000 migrants since the migrant crisis began under former Mayor Lori Lightfoot. The city established nearly 40 shelters and incurred significant expenses for medical care, food service, school enrollment, and work permits.
The Johnson administration faced criticism from some City Council members and constituents due to its handling of the migrant crisis, including forcing asylum-seekers to sleep on airport floors and police stations. Despite these challenges, Mayor Johnson's office emphasized the need to respond to the crisis, stating that it was not the city's responsibility but rather the federal government's.
The ruling comes as a significant victory for Mayor Johnson's administration, which has been at odds with President Donald Trump over its status as a sanctuary city.
A US federal judge has ruled in favor of Chicago's Mayor Brandon Johnson's administration, granting a preliminary injunction that blocks the withholding of $50 million in federal funding from the city. The ruling comes after the Department of Homeland Security and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) attempted to terminate a program designed to reimburse cities for costs related to migrant care.
Chicago filed a lawsuit against these agencies in May 2023, citing a violation of the US Constitution and federal law. The city argued that a February 2025 funding freeze and subsequent termination of the program were inconsistent with Congress's priorities and facilitated illegal immigration.
The court's ruling prohibits FEMA from freezing funding or terminating the program on the basis of policy disagreements with Congress, finding that the administration's actions violated the separation of powers that gives Congress control over government spending. Corporation Counsel Mary Richardson-Lowry vowed to utilize "every legal tool available" to secure the $50 million in funding.
Chicago has already spent over $639.6 million to provide food and shelter for more than 51,000 migrants since the migrant crisis began under former Mayor Lori Lightfoot. The city established nearly 40 shelters and incurred significant expenses for medical care, food service, school enrollment, and work permits.
The Johnson administration faced criticism from some City Council members and constituents due to its handling of the migrant crisis, including forcing asylum-seekers to sleep on airport floors and police stations. Despite these challenges, Mayor Johnson's office emphasized the need to respond to the crisis, stating that it was not the city's responsibility but rather the federal government's.
The ruling comes as a significant victory for Mayor Johnson's administration, which has been at odds with President Donald Trump over its status as a sanctuary city.
finally some justice 
It's like they wanted to send Chicago a message, 'cause clearly that worked. 
That takes a lot of guts.
so now chicago gets 50 million bucks from trump era to deal with migrants... just great, another case of the feds stepping in and letting mayors think they can handle everything themselves... meanwhile, i'm sure the city's been using this money for more than just migrant care 
. mayor johnson's whole "it's not our problem" act is getting old... seems like he's just passing the buck to his constituents again 
. and what about all the other cities that are actually struggling with migrants? don't we hear from them at all? nope, it's always chicago getting special treatment 
.
so the judge is basically saying that the city can have all the money it needs to take care of these migrants, and that the federal government can't just freeze it on a whim? like, doesn't this just make things worse in the long run? 
the fact that the judge blocked the $50 million in withheld funds is super interesting 
$639.6 million is crazy! 
The city's already spent over half a billion dollars on food and shelter for these folks... it's crazy! 
And now the judge is saying that FEMA can't just stop funding because they don't agree with Congress on immigration stuff. It's like, isn't that what Congress is for? 
just had to share my thoughts on this 
. Chicago's been doing some heavy lifting with those migrants since 2023 and now they're finally getting some recognition 
.
? I guess this ruling is a good starting point 
.
. It's about time someone stood up for the cities and said "enough is enough".
. The whole thing with Trump and sanctuary cities was pretty crazy anyway 
. It's about time someone stood up to those bureaucratic headaches and said "enough is enough" 
!
i mean, i'm not even kidding, the combination of flavors is insane! anyway, back to the article... i think it's kinda funny how mayor Johnson's office was like "it's not our responsibility" when they're actually providing services to these migrants. like, where did that leave the city council members who were complaining about things? 
. It's crazy how much money the city has already spent on providing aid to these folks - $639.6 million is insane! 
. You guys must be feeling a mix of emotions right now - relief, exhaustion, and possibly some frustration 
... but hey, at least you know that $50 million is coming your way 
️ might be just what the doctor ordered 
.