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A federal judge on Thursday rejected Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Sean Duffy’s attempt to tie state funding to immigration enforcement operations.

“Congress did not authorize or grant authority to the Secretary of Transportation to impose immigration enforcement conditions on federal dollars specifically appropriated for transportation purposes,” U.S. District Judge John McConnell wrote in the preliminary injunction. 

McConnell, a former President Obama appointee, said the 20 states suing the Trump administration are likely to succeed in blocking Duffy’s efforts to restrict federal funding.

In late April, the Transportation secretary said states would lose federal funds for roads, bridges and other infrastructure projects if they block President Trump’s immigration enforcement efforts; support diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives; or defy other directives from the administration.

Democratic state attorneys general in jurisdictions with sanctuary cities filed the lawsuit, alleging that Duffy’s restrictions were an overreach of authority.

“I directed states who want federal DOT money to comply with federal immigration laws. But, no surprise, an Obama-appointed judge has ruled that states can openly defy our federal immigration laws,” Duffy said in a statement sent to The Hill on Friday.

“This is judicial activism pure and simple and I will continue to fight in the courts,” he added.

The White House and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) did not immediately respond to The Hill’s request for comment.

The 20 states are also pursuing a separate case in Rhode Island regarding the blocking of federal grants issued by DHS. 

Updated at 12:44 p.m. EDT