A coalition of 20 state Democratic attorneys generals filed two federal lawsuits Tuesday claiming the Trump administration threatened to withhold billions of dollars in transportation and disaster relief funds unless states agree to certain immigration enforcement actions.

According to the complaint, both Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Sean Duffy, Transport Secretary Threatening to cut off funding from states that refuse to comply with President Donald Trump’s immigration agenda.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta said in a press conference Tuesday that while no federal funds are being seized, the threat is "coming."

"President Donald Trump cannot use these funds as bargaining chips to ensure the country complies with his preferred policy," Bonta added.

Emails seeking comments are sent to the Department of Transportation and Homeland Security.

Both lawsuits say the Trump administration is breaking the U.S. Constitution and trying to decide federal spending Congress has this power - not the executive branch.

On April 24, states received letters from the Department of Transportation stating that they must collaborate in immigration work and eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion programs or the risk of losing funds.

New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin criticizes Duffy's letter timing Newark Airport struggles with radar interruption and other issues.

"I hope the government can stop playing a political role with people's lives," Pratkin said. "I hope Minister Duffy can do his damn job, which is to ensure the plane lands on time, not to direct immigration enforcement."

Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul also criticized the government, saying the funds were "literally life-saving."

“This critical funding has nothing to do with immigration, and the government’s attempt to take it hostage unless the states agree to engage in civil immigration enforcement in the federal government, is unconstitutional,” Raoul said. “I am proud of the ongoing cooperation among state attorneys general and are committed to using all the tools for us to play a political role with the Trump administration’s continued life with Americans.”

Meanwhile, on February 24, states received letters from the Department of Homeland Security announcing that they “refused to cooperate with it, refused to share information with information, and even actively hindered federal immigration law enforcement’s rejection of these ideals and the history we share as Americans.”

"If any government entity chooses to give a thumbs-up nose in the Department of Homeland Security's national security and public safety mission, it should not receive a dollar from the department unless Congress specifically requests it."

Attorneys behind the lawsuit include the following states: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, Nevada, New Jersey, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, New York, Oregon, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, Washington, Wisconsin, Wisconsin and Vermont and Vermont.

"Minnesota law enforcement officers work hard to protect and serve the community, and we are very grateful for everything they do. The decision on how to allocate police resources to maintain public safety is made at the local level because every community has different security needs," said Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison. "It is both wrong and illegal to ask Minnesota law enforcement to stay away from their patrols, investigations and community engagement to implement federal immigration laws."

"These funds are designed to repair the aging path and bridges, strengthen public safety, and ensure law enforcement has the tools needed to act quickly in an emergency. Donald Trump's White House prioritizes Americans' safety and well-being," added General Dana Nessel, a Michigan lawyer.

The cases were led by California but filed in federal court in Rhode Island, with details of the case being the defense attorney’s defense, saying they raised “any court that would be fair and objective and consider our factual introduction and legal analysis.”

The lawsuits are the latest legal lawsuits taken by a Democratic-led state against Trump since he took office earlier this year. Bonta noted that California has filed more than 20 lawsuits against the government, while Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha said his state has launched more than a dozen.

Despite the lawsuit’s skepticism and federal employees’ firings of health care research, Trump’s focus on immigration enforcement and mass deportation of U.S. immigrants has received the greatest attention.

This includes the registry required for the president to commit to mass deport people to all illegal people.

"What we see is a spreading authoritarianism," Nellenha said.