Arizona AG joins lawsuit to block restrictions on federal funding for violent crime victim support

PHOENIX — Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes joined a multistate lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s attempt to restrict funding for programs that support victims of violent crime.

“I’m proud to file this suit in support of survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking and other violent crimes,” she said in a Wednesday announcement.

With this move, Arizona has now joined 26 multistate lawsuits targeting Trump administration policies.

How has Trump administration impacted violent crime victim support?

The lawsuit opposes a rule called the Legal Services Condition, announced last month by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).

The rule blocks states from using federal crime victim funds to provide legal services to undocumented immigrants or others who can’t prove their legal status.

It applies to three major funding sources:

• Victims of Crime Act (VOCA).
• Byrne Justice Assistance Grants (Byrne JAG).
• Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).

According to Mayes, the funds pay for legal representation in family court, relocation and housing assistance, compensation for medical bills, funeral costs and even support local criminal justice initiatives.

The DOJ’s rule is set to take effect Oct. 31 and will apply to both new and existing grants. However, Mayes and 21 other attorneys general hope the lawsuit will stop the rule from being enforced.

“The Trump administration likes to pretend they support crime victims — but from slashing critical survivor resources to ignoring the victims of Jeffrey Epstein, they’ve proven they do not stand with victims or with the rule of law,” Mayes said.

Why is Kris Mayes filing lawsuit over violent crime victim support?

The grant programs detailed in the DOJ’s rule have helped states support survivors of violent crimes for decades.

Restricting them is an “anti-police” move by the Trump administration, Mayes said.

“We rely on victims to come forward and tell us when they’ve been the victims of crimes,” she told KTAR News 92.3 FM on Wednesday.

Although the DOJ’s rule targets undocumented immigrants, its effects will harm all victims of violent crime — regardless of immigration status, she added.

“We rely on them to be witnesses, and these grants help us help them,” Mayes said. “These are bad, unconstitutional decisions by the Trump administration, and we are going to stand up for the rule of law.”

KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Balin Overstolz McNair contributed to this report.

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