Jan. 13 (UPI) — President Donald Trump on Tuesday said he plans to freeze federal funds to so-called sanctuary cities amid his administration’s intensifying immigration crackdown, a move expected to be met with litigation.
“Starting Feb. 1, we’re not making any payments to sanctuary cities or states having sanctuary cities because they do everything to protect criminals at the expense of American citizens and it breeds fraud and crime and all of the other problems that come,” Trump said Tuesday during a speech at the Detroit Economic Club.
“So we’re not making any payments to anybody that supports sanctuary cities.
Asked later Tuesday by reporters for details about what funding would be cut, Trump said: “You’ll see. It’ll be significant.”
Sanctuary cities are those with policies that support immigrant populations, in particular limiting state and local police cooperation with federal immigration law enforcement. According to the American Immigration Council, the policies promote trust between local law enforcement and communities with notable immigrant populations.
Trump has targeted sanctuary cities since his first administration over their refusal to comply with his strict immigration policies. His attempts to limit federal funds then were largely blocked by the courts.
Since returning to the White House for his second term, he has renewed his attacks.
In April, he directed Attorney General Pamela Bondi to compile a list of sanctuary jurisdictions for punishment, which she produced in August naming 18 cities, 13 states and four counties that are generally considered to be Democratic-run.
The Trump administration has brought lawsuits against a handful of them, including New York City, Los Angeles and Chicago, among others.
“Punishing states and cities that refuse to participate in the federal government’s inhumane and cruel attacks on immigrants is simply a playground bullying tactic,” Mrad Awadeh, president and CEO of the New York Immigration Coalition, said in a statement.
“We expect New York City and other sanctuary jurisdictions to call this bully’s bluff by litigating this egregious violation of our City and State’s 10th Amendment rights and the federal government’s responsibility to provide essential services to all counties, cities and states.”
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he will not negotiate the city’s policies.
“Our values and our laws are not bargaining chips,” he said on social media. “We will always defend New Yorkers, even in the face of federal threats to withhold funding.”
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson was more direct: “See you in court, @realDonald Trump,” he said on X.