A federal judge in California on Tuesday temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s executive order to withhold grants from cities that do not comply with federal immigration policies, such as Evanston.

The judge, William H. Orrick, issued a nationwide injunction prohibiting the president from attaching new conditions to federal spending.

“Federal funding that bears no meaningful relationship to immigration enforcement cannot be threatened merely because a jurisdiction chooses an immigration enforcement strategy of which the President disapproves,” Orrick said in his ruling.

The decision will hold as the lawsuits — brought by San Francisco and Santa Clara County — move through court. About 34 other local governments across the country filed arguments supporting the suit, including Cook County.

The local governments’ victory could help reinforce sanctuary policies nationwide, including in Evanston.

Evanston became a sanctuary city after approving a “welcoming city” ordinance in December, which prohibited city officials and police officers from asking for a resident’s legal status unless required by state law or court.

In January, Evanston Township High School and Evanston/Skokie School District 65 also unanimously passed “safe haven” resolutions prohibiting school officials from asking a student’s or parent’s legal status unless required by court.

After Trump signed his initial order to pull funding from sanctuary cities Jan. 25, Mayor Elizabeth Tisdahl issued a statement standing behind the city’s new ordinance and sanctuary status.

“I support the rights of all our residents, including immigrants, to live their lives in our community safely and without fear,” Tisdahl said in the statement. “The City of Evanston … will continue to work to welcome all people to our community.”

Though Tuesday’s injunction halted the Trump administration’s attempt to cut off aid, it does not prevent the government from designating cities as “sanctuaries.” The administration can also continue to enforce conditions for federal grants if they already exist.

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