President Trump’s executive order targeting sanctuary cities threatens to cut federal funding from jurisdictions that refuse to comply with immigration enforcement efforts.

At a Glance

Trump signed an executive order threatening to withhold federal funding from sanctuary cities that obstruct immigration enforcement
The Justice Department is tasked with identifying non-compliant jurisdictions for potential financial penalties
The order aims to prevent sanctuary city residents from receiving federal public benefits
Attorney General Pam Bondi and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem will pursue legal actions against resistant cities
Notable sanctuary jurisdictions include Chicago, New York City, Boston, and states like California and Illinois

Trump Cracks Down on Sanctuary Policies

President Donald Trump has signed a significant executive order targeting sanctuary cities across America that refuse to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. The order threatens to cut off federal funding from jurisdictions that obstruct immigration enforcement efforts, targeting areas that have established policies limiting cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This action represents one of Trump’s key campaign promises to accelerate deportations and strengthen enforcement of immigration laws that sanctuary policies have traditionally hindered.

The executive order directs the Justice Department to compile a list of sanctuary jurisdictions and potentially deny them federal funding if they fail to comply with immigration enforcement. Attorney General Pam Bondi and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem have been tasked with pursuing legal actions against cities and states that refuse to cooperate. The administration has identified major cities including Chicago, New York City, and Los Angeles, as well as entire states like California, Oregon, Washington, and Illinois, as maintaining sanctuary laws.

President Donald Trump signed an executive order Monday that directs federal and state officials to compile lists of so-called "sanctuary" jurisdictions that are pushing back against the administration's immigration policies.

https://t.co/NShfAZBo9b

— WTVR CBS 6 Richmond (@CBS6) April 29, 2025

Federal Funding at Risk

Under the executive order, sanctuary jurisdictions face significant financial consequences if they continue to obstruct federal immigration enforcement. The White House has emphasized that these jurisdictions will have an opportunity to comply with federal law before losing funding. This approach attempts to address earlier legal challenges—in 2017, a federal judge blocked a similar Trump administration attempt to restrict funds to sanctuary cities, citing constitutional violations.

“It’s quite simple: 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. The American public don’t want illegal alien criminals in their communities. They made that quite clear on November 5, and this administration is determined to enforce our nation’s immigration laws.”, said White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt

The order also aims to prevent residents of sanctuary jurisdictions from receiving federal public benefits and calls for ending local laws that provide advantages to non-citizens over American citizens. This comprehensive approach reflects the administration’s position that sanctuary policies undermine immigration enforcement and potentially endanger public safety by allowing individuals who have violated immigration laws to remain in communities.

President Trump will sign an executive order Monday targeting cities and states that don't fully cooperate with federal immigration authorities. The order directs the Justice Department and Homeland Security to identify "sanctuary jurisdictions" within a month, threatening them… https://t.co/UT7QC5D3C8

— *Walter Bloomberg (@DeItaone) April 28, 2025

Safety Concerns and Local Resistance

The Trump administration has repeatedly criticized sanctuary jurisdictions, with the president describing them as “death traps” that protect criminals rather than victims. The White House has cited instances where sanctuary policies prevented cooperation with ICE, allegedly leading to preventable crimes committed by illegal immigrants. This argument forms the foundation of the administration’s assertion that sanctuary policies compromise public safety.

Despite the federal pressure, many sanctuary cities have indicated they will maintain their policies, setting up potential legal battles. However, some local leaders have shown willingness to adjust. New York City Mayor Eric Adams recently modified some immigration policies, allowing ICE to operate at Rikers Island jail for criminal matters, while maintaining other sanctuary protections. This executive order is part of Trump’s broader agenda, with the president having signed over 140 executive orders in his first 100 days, many focused on immigration and border security.