New York Attorney General Letitia James today led a coalition of 20 other attorneys general in suing to block unlawful new restrictions on federal funding that supports survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and other violent crimes. The attorneys general are challenging a rule issued by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) that bars states from providing critical services to survivors who cannot immediately prove their immigration status. The lawsuit comes just weeks after comments from the president minimizing the severity of domestic violence and suggesting that violence in the home should not be considered a crime. Attorney General James and the coalition argue that the new restrictions risk silencing survivors and eroding decades of progress in protecting victims of violence and are asking the court to protect survivors by blocking the rule before it can take effect.

“Sexual assault and domestic violence survivors turn to our courts for safety and protection. They should never be turned away because of who they are or where they come from,” said Attorney General James. “With this cruel attempt to dictate which survivors deserve access to legal supports, DOJ is endangering families, silencing survivors, and threatening public safety. I will not stand idly by while the federal government unjustly attacks people seeking protection from violence. We are asking the court to block this illegal rule before it takes effect, immeasurably harming survivors.”