After a legal challenge by multiple states, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has agreed to remove conditions previously placed on more than $1.3 billion in Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) grants. New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin announced the decision, which comes after a lawsuit targeting the Trump Administration's attempt to tie access to these funds to state cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.
Attorney General Platkin stated, "When the Trump Administration recklessly attempted to mistreat victims of crime in New Jersey and across the country, we took action and led a 20 Attorney General coalition to ensure continued funding under the Victims of Crime Act. Now the Trump Department of Justice has agreed to drop illegal conditions on this critical funding, which will ensure that advocacy services, sexual assault forensic exams, medical and funeral expenses, and other critical resources for victims of crimes will continue to be available. While this fight over DOJ’s unlawful and politicized use of grant conditions is not yet over, I am glad to have achieved this significant victory for our residents alongside our coalition."
The VOCA was established in 1984 during President Ronald Reagan’s administration to support states in providing resources such as victim advocacy services, emergency shelter, medical costs, funeral expenses, crime scene cleanup, and sexual assault forensic exams. Each year, VOCA funding helps nearly 9 million crime victims and compensates over 200,000 claims nationwide.
Previously under the Trump Administration’s DOJ policy change, states were informed that they would be denied access to these grants unless they assisted with federal civil immigration enforcement—a responsibility typically managed at the federal level by agencies like the Department of Homeland Security.
Following litigation initiated by a coalition led by New Jersey and joined by California Attorney General Rob Bonta; Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings; Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul; Rhode Island Attorney General Peter F. Neronha; as well as Attorneys General from Connecticut, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia—the DOJ has now dropped its requirement tying VOCA funds to immigration enforcement efforts.
As a result of this development,
$178 million in VOCA Victim Assistance grants and $1.2 billion in VOCA Victim Compensation grants will be distributed without new requirements related to state participation in immigration enforcement activities.
