Judge Rules DHS Violated Order to Unfreeze Migrant Support Funds

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A federal judge in Chicago ruled that the Department of Homeland Security failed to comply with a court order to unfreeze migrant support funds to Chicago, Denver, and Pima County, Arizona. The judge said the government must process reimbursement requests that were submitted before the grants were formally terminated in April, as long as it can articulate a proper reason for denying the requests.

Why it matters

This ruling is significant as it highlights ongoing tensions between the federal government and local jurisdictions over funding for migrant support services. The judge's decision affirms that the DHS cannot simply terminate these grants without following proper procedures, which could have major implications for how the government provides aid to immigrants and refugees.

The details

In his ruling, Judge Matthew Kennelly of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois said the DHS failed to comply with his previous order to unfreeze the migrant support funds that had been awarded to the cities of Chicago and Denver, as well as Pima County, Arizona. The judge said the government must process any reimbursement requests that were submitted before the grants were formally terminated in April, as long as the DHS can articulate a proper reason for denying the requests that does not rely on the rationales he had previously rejected.

• The grants in question were formally terminated by the DHS in April 2026.
• Judge Kennelly issued his original order to unfreeze the migrant support funds in January 2026.

What’s next

The judge will likely monitor the DHS's compliance with his order to process the reimbursement requests, and could potentially hold the agency in contempt if it fails to do so.