If we could just get past all the usual name-calling and mud slinging, it's a really interesting issue, whether the state or local government are within their rights to refuse to enforce federal law, and whether the executive branch of the federal government is within its rights to selectively withhold funds as punishment.   

 

As far as I can tell from a minimal amount of research, state and local governments do not have to help the federal government enforce federal law.   Whether the executive branch of the federal government has the power to withhold money that has been authorized by Congress seems kind of doubtful.  As far as I know, disbursement of funds has to be authorized by the legislative branch, and that would imply that the Executive branch cannot just refuse to disburse the funds.

 

It's interesting because we have legalized sale of marijuana in some states, which is in direct violation of federal law.  But as I recall, the Obama administration did not enforce federal law in that case.   They could have come in and shut down the marijuana dispensaries and charged the proprietors with a federal crime, but they would have had to use federal law enforcement personnel. 

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