The Department of Justice (DOJ) is seeking to join a class-action lawsuit against the City of Evanston’s ‘Local Reparations Restorative Housing Program.’ Federal prosecutors argue that this initiative discriminates based on race and ancestry.

Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon stated, ‘There are sound ways for a city to remedy past discrimination, but handing out money based on race is illegal.’ The DOJ contends this program violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment and the Fair Housing Act.

Approved in 2019 and operational since 2021, the program provides $25,000 grants to eligible Black residents or descendants in Evanston. These funds support home purchases, mortgage aid, and property repairs. To qualify, individuals must have lived in Evanston between 1919 and 1969 or be descendants of residents from that era.

The program has sparked debates on racial justice. Proponents say it addresses economic gaps, but the DOJ argues it is not narrowly tailored because it solely uses race as a qualifying criterion.

A legal challenge began in May 2024 when Judicial Watch filed a lawsuit on behalf of six non-Black descendants who claim they were unlawfully excluded. In March, a federal judge allowed the lawsuit to proceed, and the DOJ launched an investigation into Evanston’s practices.

Evanston has distributed over $7 million from a $20 million fund, financed by a local tax on recreational marijuana sales. This year, $25,000 payments went to an additional 44 residents. Despite the DOJ’s actions, Evanston stands by the program’s legality but refrained from commenting further during active litigation.

Other states and cities are exploring reparations, including Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s ‘Repair Chicago’ initiative to collect Black residents’ experiences.

The DOJ has not responded to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.