A federal judge in California on Monday permanently blocked President Trump's executive order that allowed funding to be cut to cities that do not cooperate with U.S. immigration authorities.

U.S. District Court Judge William Orrick ruled the president cannot impose new conditions on spending approved by Congress, according to the Associated Press.

Orrick issued the ruling in response to lawsuits brought by the California counties of San Francisco and Santa Clara.

The judge had previously placed a temporary hold on Trump's executive order, which targets so-called "sanctuary cities."

The Trump administration has appealed Orrick's decision to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.