NEW YORK, May 6 (Reuters) - A federal judge in Manhattan blocked the Trump administration on Tuesday from canceling more than $1.1 billion in unspent aid meant to help U.S. elementary and high schools address the long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Other plaintiffs included attorneys general of Arizona, California, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada and Oregon.

'[It's] terrifying … that someone has been documented, that a Brazilian national fled the country because they were convicted for rape of a 13-year-old and could come to Massachusetts and not only disappear into the fabric of Massachusetts, but actually be living in a home that was a daycare center for young people,' Worcester County Sheriff Lew Evangelidis told Boston 25 News.  But in a March 28 letter, McMahon, a member of Republican President Donald Trump's cabinet, said states had ample time to spend the money, and allowing more time years after the pandemic ended was inconsistent with her department's priorities.

Lucas was convicted by the Sole Court of the District of Serro, Minas Gerais, Brazil, December 6, 2016, of rape of a vulnerable person and sentenced to serve nine years and four months incarceration.  Washington had authorized about $190 billion of aid to help K-12 schools recover from the pandemic, with funds meant for tutoring students who fell behind, upgrades to school buildings, food for homeless students and other purposes.

McMahon and the Justice Department argued that taking back the money served the public interest, because taxpayer funds should be used for their intended purpose and the public health emergency from the pandemic had long passed.