Trump administration lifts condition for Wisconsin VOCA grants following lawsuit

MADISON, Wis. (CIVIC MEDIA) – Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul announced Monday that the federal government has lifted its requirement for states to assist in immigration enforcement in order to receive Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funds.

According to a Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) news release, the Trump administration’s concession allows Wisconsin to retain access to over $24 million in federal funding for victim service programs.

“This is funding that helps make a difference for victims of crime,” said Kaul in a statement. “The Trump administration shouldn’t have tried to tie states’ access to this funding to their assistance with immigration enforcement.”

The federal government’s retraction of the condition follows a multi-state lawsuit filed in August by a coalition of state attorney generals, including Kaul, that challenged the directive, arguing that the obstruction was unlawful and it violated the U.S. Constitution. Read the coalition’s full complaint here.

“VOCA funding is intended to be used to help victims of crime,” said Kaul in an August news release following the lawsuit’s filing. “It is appalling that the Trump administration is weaponizing this funding.”

Read Civic Media’s previous coverage of the VOCA lawsuit.