(NewsNation) — President Donald Trump on Thursday morning said his administration is taking efforts to withhold federal funding from cities and states with policies that limit local law enforcement from cooperating with federal authorities on some immigration matters.
“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 on his social media platform. “Working on papers to withhold all Federal Funding for any City or State that allows these Death Traps to exist!!!”
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson acknowledged in January the receipt of a letter from Washington, D.C., that stated, in summary, that Chicago and other cities like it — notably Denver, New York and Boston, all of which hold sanctuary city status like Chicago — were being investigated by the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. Johnson testified before the Congressional panel last month.
Trump must face Central Park 5 defamation suit, judge rules
“The City of Chicago complies with all federal and state laws,” a mayor’s office spokesperson said in a statement released after the president’s post.
“Mayor Johnson’s administration will vigorously defend Chicagoans from any unconstitutional or unlawful attempts to strip residents of the funding and services that they are entitled to. The Department of Law will continue to assess any correspondence from the Trump administration that may impact Chicagoans in any way.”
The Congressional committee on Thursday requested testimony from Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul on their states’ sanctuary laws.
“Let’s call this what this is: another partisan dog and pony show,” a Pritzker spokesman said in a Thursday statement. “Illinois’ Trust Act – which was signed into law by a Republican – is fully compliant with federal law and ensures law enforcement can focus on doing their actual jobs while empowering all members of the public – regardless of immigration status – to feel comfortable calling law enforcement to seek help, report crimes, and cooperate in investigations.”
The spokesman said the governor’s office was evaluating whether Pritzker “should take time from his busy schedule serving the people of Illinois to educate the House GOP on these matters.”
Carville: Dems should learn from winners of swing states, not AOC
Ald. Michael Rodriguez (22nd Ward) said Chicago is no stranger to this conflict. Under former Mayor Rahm Emanuel, the city sued the Trump administration for withholding funds for the same reason.
“The president tried this in his last term and failed, and he will fail again,” he told NewsNation Chicago affiliate WGN.
But Ald. Ray Lopez (15th Ward) said he doesn’t see the fight heading into a courtroom. Instead, he thinks the administration will wait for grants to expire.
“You are going to see law enforcement take a hit because we rely on hundreds of millions of dollars to support our police,” he said. “Public health will take a huge hit. That is almost an entirely federal grant-funded department.”
Lopez argues the city should again consider amending its Welcoming City ordinance. The city council earlier this year struck down a proposal that reportedly would have granted exceptions when undocumented residents are arrested or convicted of selling and buying drugs, prostitution, human trafficking and “sexual crimes involving minors.”
“We are choosing to protect that 2 percent of the population that engages in criminal behavior rather than working with our federal partners to remove them from our city and from our country,” Lopez said.
According to Johnson’s office, the city is expected to receive roughly $3.5 billion in new and existing federal grant dollars. The Chicago Transit Authority is expecting $1.9 billion to extend the Red Line south to South 130th Street and to construct four new stations. Chicago Public Schools last year received $1.3 billion in federal funding.
Trump tariff reversal may have enriched cronies: Schiff
Chicago’s policy that prevents city officials, including police officers, from cooperating with federal immigration authorities has been in place, in some form, for 40 years.
In 2017, Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner signed a bill which barred police from arresting anyone solely due to their immigration status. Pritzker signed further legislation in 2021 with additional protections.
The Department of Justice claims Illinois’ TRUST Act and Chicago’s Welcoming City Ordinance are invalid due to the Supremacy Clause.
“The federal government has always had the right to take migrants who have convicted federal crimes and deport them. What the president is trying to do is subvert the law,” Rodriguez said.
