...
By Billal Rahman
Immigration Reporter
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
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.
Read More on Politics
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.
...
What To Know
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. Jurisdictions found in violation risk losing access to federal funding and contracts.
However, legal challenges have limited the administration's attempts to defund sanctuary cities. In recent years, federal courts have repeatedly ruled against efforts to withhold funding from jurisdictions that limit cooperation with federal authorities.
In April, a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction blocking the White House from enforcing a plan to cut funding to cities such as San Francisco, Portland, Oregon, and Seattle, citing constitutional concerns over the separation of powers and the overreach of executive authority.
These rulings follow a series of court decisions dating back to 2017 when similar efforts under previous executive orders were found to violate the Constitution's Spending Clause.
While the administration continues to pressure sanctuary jurisdictions through public rhetoric and legal threats, its ability to impose financial penalties has been significantly constrained by judicial review.
The government has filed a lawsuit against the city of Rochester, New York, alleging that local officials unlawfully interfered with federal immigration enforcement efforts. Separately, the Justice Department is pursuing charges against a Milwaukee judge, accusing them of obstructing immigration agents.
"On its face, the complaint is an exercise in political theater, not legal practice," the statement reads."
"The City of Rochester is committed to investing its resources on public safety for all, not doing the federal government's work of immigration enforcement."
A federal judge in San Francisco has temporarily halted the government's ability to enforce a section of an executive order that mandates agencies to withhold funds from cities and counties that do not cooperate with federal immigration enforcement.
On Monday, Trump signed two more executive orders. One of which will offer legal support to police officers accused of misconduct; review and seek changes to current restrictions on law enforcement, including federal consent decrees; supply military equipment to local police departments; and pursue enforcement actions against local officials who "unlawfully prohibit law enforcement officers from performing their duties."
Leavitt said at an early morning media briefing that the executive order would "unleash America's law enforcement to pursue criminals."
The second order requires commercial truck drivers to demonstrate English proficiency, expanding on Trump's earlier initiative to declare English the official language of the United States.
The directive aims to enforce existing regulations that mandate English proficiency for professional truck drivers. It directs the Department of Transportation to declare any driver who cannot speak and read English "out of service."
What People Are Saying
Sheriff Accountability Action executive director Juan Cuba said in a statement shared with Newsweek: "Let's be crystal clear about this: sheriffs do not exist to carry out the president's will. This executive order will make our communities less safe by forcing sheriffs to constantly look over their shoulders for federal authorities coming to arrest them or confiscate their budgets if they fail to march in lockstep with the administration."
Murad Awawdeh, president and CEO of the New York Immigration Coalition, said in a press release: "President Trump's latest executive order targeting sanctuary cities is designed to punish local governments for upholding their own public safety policies and refusing to collude with his mass deportation agenda.
"This executive order is nothing more than an intimidation tactic designed to undermine the ability of local governments to enact the policies they believe best safeguard their communities, while strong-arming localities into becoming complicit with Trump's attacks on immigrants."
What Happens Next
The Trump administration will continue with its immigration crackdown as opponents seek to stymie its efforts in the courts.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines