Attorney General Neronha co-leads lawsuit against Trump Administration to protect services for crime survivors

Attorney General Neronha co-leads lawsuit against Trump Administration to protect services for crime survivors

Published on Wednesday, October 01, 2025

Attorney General Neronha today co-led a coalition of 21 attorneys general in filing a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to block new restrictions on federal funding that supports survivors of domestic violence and other violent crimes.

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in the District of Rhode Island, challenges a rule barring states from using Victims of Crime Act (VOCA), Byrne Justice Assistance Grants (Byrne JAG), and Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) grant funds to provide services to undocumented immigrants, or other individuals who cannot prove their status. Attorney General Neronha and the coalition argue that the new policy is unconstitutional and are asking the court to stop the rule from taking effect in their states.

"When a victim of sexual assault or domestic violence seeks help, the first question we ask should not be about their immigration status," said Attorney General Neronha. "First of all, as a matter of practicality, many service providers do not have the capacity or resources necessary to screen for such things. More importantly, under no circumstance should receiving help for crimes of domestic and sexual violence be subject to politically motivated conditions. Not to mention that dissuading survivors from reporting keeps violent criminals on the streets. These restrictions are unreasonable, unlawful, and we will fight to make sure they are blocked."

For decades, the VOCA and VAWA grant programs have enabled states to support survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, and other violent crimes. The grants fund services such as legal representation in family court, relocation and housing assistance, compensation for medical bills and funeral costs, and other civil legal services. Byrne JAG grants provide additional resources to state and local governments for criminal justice initiatives, including - in some states - support for public defenders. In their lawsuit, the attorneys general emphasize that all three programs have long been available to all eligible individuals, regardless of immigration status.

Last month, DOJ informed states that they could no longer use VOCA, VAWA, or Byrne JAG funds to provide legal services to undocumented immigrants. The new "Legal Services Condition" applies not only to future funding but also to grants already awarded, and is scheduled to take effect on October 31, 2025.

Attorney General Neronha and the coalition warn that the new restrictions will upend victim services programs, cut off critical resources, and discourage survivors from seeking help. If service providers have to screen victims' or witnesses' immigration status, they could be forced to deny protection to families in crisis - a policy that would ultimately silence survivors and erode trust between communities and law enforcement. The attorneys general also highlight the fact that many service providers do not have the capacity or resources necessary to enact such screening processes.

In Rhode Island, VOCA grants are the primary source of funding for victim services. Most of that funding flows from VOCA's two main grants: victim compensation grants, which provide direct financial support to crime victims, and victim assistance grants, which are almost entirely distributed to nonprofits throughout the state to provide additional support services to those impacted by crime. For federal FY 2024, Rhode Island received nearly $3 million in VOCA victim assistance funds and nearly $300K in VOCA victim compensation funds. During that same time period, VOCA assistance funds were used to provide services to approximately 41,015 individuals through dozens of nonprofits, and 635 individuals received VOCA compensation payments through the State's Crime Victim Compensation Program. Several VOCA subgrantees in Rhode Island provide legal services to victims and their families regardless of their immigration status. These organizations would not be able to certify compliance with the legal services condition at issue in this case, risking the loss of their VOCA funding.

In today's lawsuit, Attorney General Neronha and the coalition argue that DOJ's new restrictions violate the Constitution's Spending Clause by attaching retroactive and ambiguous conditions to grants that were already awarded, in some cases years ago. The coalition also asserts that DOJ acted in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act by failing to justify its reversal of decades-long policy and by ignoring the harm the rule will cause to survivors and service providers.

Joining Attorney General Neronha in filing this lawsuit are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia.

###