President Donald Trump said his administration is close to finalizing a plan that would withhold all federal funding to cities and states that have enacted “sanctuary” zones and do not cooperate with federal immigration authorities.
“No more Sanctuary Cities! They protect the Criminals, not the Victims. They are disgracing our Country and are being mocked all over the World,” Trump wrote in a post to Truth Social Thursday morning. “Working on papers to withhold all Federal Funding for any City or State that allows these Death Traps to exist!!!”
White House border czar Tom Homan called in November 2024, before he was appointed to the role, for federal funding to sanctuary zones to be slashed. Trump has urged the same since taking office, and the announcement on Thursday signals progress.
For years, sanctuary cities and states have sought to be havens for noncitizens regardless of their immigration status.
But those sanctuary jurisdictions have simultaneously clashed with federal authorities as local elected officials vote to forbid law enforcement from turning over illegal immigrants in custody for non-immigration offenses, with few exceptions.
Trump’s focus on sanctuary zones comes nearly three months into his second term as he attempts to carry out the “largest-ever” mass deportation operation. That operation has been held up by large cities that refuse to cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION REINSTATES VOICE OFFICE FOR AMERICANS VICTIMIZED BY ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS
When an illegal immigrant is arrested by local police on a criminal offense, ICE requests that the jail hold that person for 48 hours past his or her release in order to pick that individual up.
Sanctuary zones will not hold the person for ICE, effectively allowing him or her back onto the street and forcing ICE to then go into communities and make individual arrests.