The order directs officials to publish a list of state and local jurisdictions that the Trump administration considers “sanctuary cities.”
President Donald Trump has signed an executive order directing federal and state officials to compile lists of so-called “sanctuary” jurisdictions that are resisting the administration’s immigration policies.
The order directs the government to identify federal funds that can be withheld as a penalty for cities that enforce sanctuary policies.
Why It Matters
Attorney General Pam Bondi and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem are instructed to publish a list of state and local jurisdictions whose status as sanctuary cities means they limit or refuse to cooperate with federal immigration authorities to arrest undocumented immigrants.
The move will theoretically make it easier for the White House to carry out its plans to remove millions of undocumented immigrants. Many Democrats view such cities as a matter of human rights, while conservatives often portray them as safe havens for people who entered the U.S. illegally.
The order calls for pursuing “all necessary legal remedies and enforcement measures” against jurisdictions that continue to oppose the administration’s immigration crackdown.
“It’s quite simple”, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Monday. “Obey the law, respect the law, and don’t obstruct federal immigration officials and law enforcement officials when they are simply trying to remove public safety threats from our nation’s communities.”
White House officials “shall identify appropriate federal funds to sanctuary jurisdictions, including grants and contracts, for suspension or termination, as appropriate”, according to the executive order.
The order asserts that federal immigration laws take precedence over state legislation. It argues that ongoing resistance from state and local authorities on immigration issues could pose threats to national security and potentially breach federal law.
