Twenty US states, including California, New York, and Rhode Island, have filed lawsuits against the Trump administration, contesting federal policy linking money to immigration enforcement. The lawsuits, filed in the District of Rhode Island, target the Departments of Transportation, Homeland Security, FEMA, and the Coast Guard, Xinhua reported.

The states claim that the federal government is improperly forcing them to enforce immigration rules by threatening to withhold emergency and transportation funds, which violates constitutional restrictions and state autonomy.

The lawsuits mention a letter from Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy dated April 24 and an executive order issued by President Trump on April 28. Duffy stated that no funds had been withheld and accused the states of violating federal laws, according to Xinhua.