AJC Brief Opposes Justice Department Attempt to Encumber Federal Grants to Local Police
NEW YORK, Oct. 12, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- AJC has filed an amicus brief in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit supporting Philadelphia's challenge to additional conditions imposed by the U.S. Justice Department on its grants for local law enforcement.
The case, City of Philadelphia v. Attorney General of the United States, involves stipulations, related to tracking immigrants and assisting in their apprehension, added by a decision of the Department to the DOJ's Bureau of Justice Assistance Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program.
In its brief, AJC agreed with the ruling of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania that the additional conditions were unlawful because Congress has not granted the DOJ authority to impose them.
AJC urged the appellate court to affirm the lower court decision so that the grants can continue.
"Denying funding for City law enforcement will impede the City's ability to combat crime," states the AJC brief, adding that the conditions imposed by the Department of Justice on its own authority will "compromise the City's efforts to build sustainable relationships with local immigrant communities and ensure their access to essential services."
The DOJ conditions require that local police department recipients of the grants provide U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement (ICE) access to city prisons to interview persons of interest and provide ICE notice about the release of any aliens from city prisons.
"AJC has consistently challenged government actions against immigrants that lack a legal foundation, and which are antithetical to the values of AJC and the United States," states the AJC brief.
The AJC brief was prepared by Adam S. Lurie of Linklaters LLP in Washington, D.C. and several associates of the firm.
SOURCE American Jewish Committee
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