Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced on Friday that his city filed a lawsuit against federal government over its attempt to impose additional conditions for federal funds earmarked for local law enforcement.

The third largest U.S. city accused the Department of Justice (DOJ) of attempting to impose four immigration-related conditions on the 2018 Byrne Grant, the leading source of federal justice funding to state and local jurisdictions.

"Instead of inviting lawsuits and attacking immigrants, the Trump DOJ should immediately stop placing illegal conditions on these grants, quit withholding grant funding, and allow Chicago to use these grants to improve public safety, " Emanuel said in a press release.

Chicago and some other U.S. cities have been at odds with federal government under President Donald Trump, who takes a harsh attitude toward undocumented immigrants.

DOJ has not yet released the grant of more than two million U.S. dollars for 2017, despite that Chicago won relevant lawsuit. Now, said the mayor's office, the federal department attempts to impose "new and unlawful conditions" on the 2018 grant.

Chicago has used federal funds to improve public safety, including the purchase of SWAT equipment, police vehicles, radios, tasers, and expansion of the ShotSpotter system.

Another U.S. city, Philadelphia, has reportedly won a ruling recently in a similar case related to the federal funds. 

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