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Federal funds for crime victims are at the center of a legal battle
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New Jersey and 21 other attorneys general are suing the Trump administration
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saying more than $1 billion in grants is being withheld illegally because states won't help enforce immigration laws
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In this case, the political pawns that they're using are victims of gun violence
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victims of domestic violence, survivors of sexual assault, children who have been sexually abused. The lawsuit points to the Victims of Crime Act
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passed over 40 years ago to fix systemic failures in supporting crime survivors
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Millions of people would not receive the benefit of the services that our law enforcement agencies
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provide in order to help them come forward and help us seek justice on their behalf
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VOCA funds provide essential services from advocacy and emergency shelter to forensic exams, medical and funeral costs, and compensation for lost wages
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The lawsuit says between 2021 and 2024, states used the funds to assist an average of 8.5 million crime victims and pay more than 200,000 claims each year
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The coalition alleges the Department of Justice is tying crime victim funds to states' cooperation with immigration enforcement
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The coalition says tying grants to immigration enforcement violates federalism and separation of powers
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and Congress did not authorize the Justice Department to impose such conditions within the law
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The lawsuit is co-led by the Attorneys General of New Jersey, California, Delaware, Illinois, and Rhode Island
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with support from 16 other states and the District of Columbia. They want a federal judge to block the administration from withholding the funds
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Find the full story right now by downloading the Straight Arrow News mobile app or go to san.com
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For Straight Arrow News, I'm Kaylee Carey
