President Trump signed executive orders Monday evening, kicking off a crackdown on sanctuary jurisdictions such as Chicago, Los Angeles, and all of New York — after previously calling for their federal funding to be cut.
One order the 78-year-old inked behind closed doors in the Oval Office gives Attorney General Pam Bondi and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem 30 days to draw up a list of cities and states that “obstruct the enforcement of federal immigration laws.”
“Immediately following each publication… the Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall notify each sanctuary jurisdiction regarding its defiance of Federal immigration law enforcement and any potential violations of Federal criminal law,” it instructs.
After that, federal agencies will scour their books for any funding — including grants and contracts — to revoke in coordination with the White House Office of Management and Budget.
If sanctuary jurisdictions don’t change their laws, “the Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall pursue all necessary legal remedies and enforcement measures to end these violations and bring such jurisdictions into compliance with the laws of the United States,” the order says.
Two other parts of the order mandate the feds verify that illegal immigrants are not receiving public benefits — such as Social Security, food stamps, or disability pay — and override state and local laws deemed to favor “aliens over any groups of American citizens.”
One example cited in the order is the practice by some states of charging illegal migrants lower tuition to attend public colleges and universities than out-of-state American citizens.
A different order authorizes Bondi to pursue legal action, including potential criminal and civil suits, against state or local officials obstructing “criminal or immigration law enforcement.”
Bondi previously paused her department’s funding for sanctuary jurisdictions, but the Trump administration has not yet issued orders to pull back all federal funds.
Trump signed the orders three days after federal authorities arrested Wisconsin judge Hannah Dugan on charges of obstructing justice and concealing a person from arrest after she allegedly tried to sneak an illegal migrant past immigration agents following a pre-trial hearing on battery charges.
In February, the Justice Department filed separate lawsuits — one against Illinois, Cook County, and Chicago; the other against New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, state Attorney General Letitia James, and DMV chief Mark Schroeder — over sanctuary policies in each of those jurisdictions.
“It’s quite simple,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters during a Monday morning briefing. “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.”
Trump has publicly floated a broad pullback of billions from states and cities that don’t cooperate on deportations.
“No more Sanctuary Cities! They protect the Criminals, not the Victims. They are disgracing our Country, and are being mocked all over the World,” the president posted April 10 on social media.
“Working on papers to withhold all Federal Funding for any City or State that allows these Death Traps to exist!!!”
NYC Mayor Eric Adams’ office, which has cooperated with some of Trump’s immigration enforcement actions, responded to Monday’s order by saying that it was important that migrants not fear contact with authorities.
“Mayor Adams has been clear that no one living in New York City — regardless of their immigration status — should be afraid to utilize city resources, like calling 911, going to a hospital, or sending their children to school,” said press secretary Kayla Mamelak.
“But we must also find ways to work with the federal government to go after violent offenders who are taking advantage of our laws to commit crimes. We will review the executive order if and when it is issued.”
Hochul’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The White House has leaned into immigration and border security, Trump’s best-polling issues, as the administration marks its 100th day in office Wednesday.
On Monday morning, yard signs with mugshots of illegal immigrants who have been accused of crimes like rape, child molestation and murder were strategically placed along the White House driveway so they would be seen in the background of TV reporters’ live hits from outside the West Wing.
Border czar Tom Homan announced that 139,000 people have been deported from the US since Jan. 20, while the number of illegal migrant encounters at the Mexico border dropped to around 11,000 in March — the lowest figure on record.
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