President Donald Trump announced a plan to stop federal funding to sanctuary cities and states that shelter criminal illegal immigrants, saying the move will begin next month and accusing those jurisdictions of fostering crime and fraud.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
President Donald Trump said Tuesday that the federal government will suspend payments to so-called sanctuary cities and states with sanctuary policies beginning Feb. 1, as part of his administration’s broader push to enforce immigration laws and combat what he describes as widespread crime and fraud linked to sanctuary jurisdictions.
Speaking at the Detroit Economic Club, Trump said the suspension of funds is targeted at cities and states that he argued “do everything possible to protect criminals at the expense of American citizens,” and claimed those policies “breed fraud and crime and all of the other problems that come,” warning that federal money would no longer flow to jurisdictions that support sanctuary policies. Reuters, The National Desk, and Newsweek reported on the announcement and Trump’s remarks.
Trump’s comments came amid heightened opposition from Democratic-led areas to his immigration enforcement approach, particularly following the ICE-involved shooting of Renée Good in Minnesota and subsequent protests. Several sanctuary jurisdictions and states have sued the administration in recent months, challenging federal actions targeting sanctuary policies and arguing such funding cuts exceed presidential authority and violate federal law.
Legal challenges to similar funding restrictions have already occurred. In 2025, a federal judge temporarily blocked the administration from withholding certain funds from over 30 cities with sanctuary policies, ruling that the government must maintain the status quo on those payments while legal arguments proceed.
Beginning Feb. 1, Trump’s plan would affect a wide range of federal payments tied to sanctuary jurisdictions, though the administration has not released a complete list of programs or clarified whether some essential services are exempt. Trump also noted during the Detroit speech that payments tied to suspected scammers in Minnesota — which he said has widespread fraud — have already been suspended.
Opponents argue that cutting federal funds for policy disagreements is likely unconstitutional, citing past court rulings that have limited a president’s ability to rescind congressionally-approved funding. Supporters of Trump’s stance say the move will pressure local governments into cooperating with federal immigration enforcement and curb crime tied to sanctuary policies.
Original article
Comments