A federal judge just blocked both President Trump and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy from withholding funds to Democrat Sanctuary states via the Transportation Department because of their sanctuary policies.

The judge is Obama-appointee Judge John McConnell:

NEWSMAX – A federal judge in Rhode Island on Thursday blocked the Trump administration from forcing 20 Democrat-led states to cooperate with immigration enforcement in order to receive billions of dollars in federal transportation grants.

Chief U.S. District Judge John McConnell, a Barack Obama appointee, granted the states’ request for an injunction barring the Transportation Department’s policy, writing in a 10-page ruling the states were likely to succeed on the merits of some or all of their claims.

The Trump administration did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The ruling came in a lawsuit filed by a group of Democrat state attorneys general who argued the administration was seeking to unlawfully hold federal funds hostage to coerce them into adhering to Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigration and border security.

The states argued that Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy lacked the authority to impose immigration enforcement conditions on funding that Congress appropriated to help states sustain roads, highways, bridges and other transportation projects.

The lawsuit before McConnell was filed after Duffy on April 24 notified states they could lose transportation funding if they do not cooperate with the enforcement of federal law, including with ICE in its efforts to enforce immigration law.

Another judge telling President Trump he can’t withhold funds. I sincerely hope the 1st Circuit will overrule this decision by McConnell.

Exit question: Are all McConnells alike?