Nevada Attorney General Aaron D. Ford has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, challenging new conditions placed on Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) grants. The lawsuit argues that the administration is unlawfully requiring states to support federal immigration enforcement in order to access funds intended for victims and survivors of crime.
Ford announced that Nevada joined 21 other states in taking legal action. “President Trump is harming victims and survivors of crime in Nevada,” said AG Ford. “It is despicable that President Trump is using vital funding to play political games. He is putting victims and survivors of crime in even more precarious situations when what they deserve is help with regaining a sense of normalcy. They should not be used as pawns to score political points.”
The VOCA program was established in 1984 under President Ronald Reagan to provide resources and services for those affected by crime, including advocacy, emergency shelter, medical expenses, funeral costs, and other critical support. Each year, VOCA distributes over a billion dollars nationwide to assist nearly nine million crime victims and handle more than 200,000 compensation claims.
Historically, these funds have been distributed according to formulas set by Congress without requirements related to immigration enforcement. The recent move by the U.S. Department of Justice would require states seeking VOCA grants to assist the Department of Homeland Security with civil immigration enforcement—a responsibility typically handled at the federal level.
According to Ford and the coalition of attorneys general, Congress did not grant DOJ authority to impose such conditions on VOCA funding. The lawsuit seeks a permanent injunction preventing the administration from enforcing these requirements.
Attorneys general from California, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Rhode Island, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin joined Nevada in filing the suit.
