Trump Announces Sanctuary Cities Crackdown: We'll 'Be Withholding Funds'
President says Cities Should 'change their status and go non-Sanctuary'
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President Donald Trump, on Thursday, announced federal funding for sanctuary cities would be withheld following a federal appeals court appeal, which ruled in his favor last week.
“As per recent Federal Court ruling, the Federal Government will be withholding funds from Sanctuary Cities. They should change their status and go non-Sanctuary. Do not protect criminals!” Trump tweeted.
The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New York ruled the Trump administration were permitted to withhold millions of dollars in federal law enforcement grants to cities that failed to cooperate with immigration enforcement officials (ICE).
The ruling overturned a lower court decision that ordered the Trump administration to release sanctuary city funding regardless if they cooperate with immigration officials.
Judge Reena Raggi wrote for the three-judge panel:
"We cannot agree that the federal government must be enjoined from imposing the challenged conditions on the federal grants here at issue.”
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“These conditions help the federal government enforce national immigration laws and policies supported by successive Democratic and Republican administrations,” Raggi continued.
“But more to the authorization point, they ensure that applicants satisfy particular statutory grant requirements imposed by Congress and subject to Attorney General oversight.”
A Department of Justice spokesperson told The New York Times regarding the decision:
"Rightfully recognizes the lawful authority of the attorney general to ensure that the Department of Justice grant recipients are not at the same time thwarting federal law enforcement priorities.”
In January, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) published a list of illegal alien fugitives who have been freed under New York City's sanctuary policies despite repeated requests from ICE to hand them over for deportation.
As per recent Federal Court ruling, the Federal Government will be withholding funds from Sanctuary Cities. They should change their status and go non-Sanctuary. Do not protect criminals!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 5, 2020
ICE Warns Maryland Sanctuary Counties May Free Illegal Sex Offenders Rather than Turn Them In
— Neon Nettle (@NeonNettle) November 25, 2019
READ MORE: https://t.co/yAUloDant7
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At a press conference in New York, acting ICE Director Matthew Albence presented the list to reporters as he spoke of the dangers of sanctuary cities were detainers issued by ICE for arrested illegal immigrants are ignored by jurisdictions.
Last month, the Trump administration deployed elite federal tactical units from the southern border to sanctuary cities across the country to assist ICE agents in enforcing federal immigration laws.
The move helped boost ICE's ability to enforce federal immigration laws in areas declared "sanctuaries" for illegal immigrants by local officials.
Several Democrat-controlled municipal jurisdictions across the United States have declared "sanctuary city" status.
Sanctuary policies restrict local law enforcement's cooperation with the national government's effort to enforce immigration law, making it almost difficult for ICE to deport criminal illegal aliens.
