Trump threatens to withhold federal funding from sanctuary cities

CHICAGO (WGN) — President Donald Trump on Thursday morning said his administration is “working on papers” to withhold federal funding from cities and states with policies that limit local law enforcement from cooperating with federal authorities on immigration matters.

“No more Sanctuary Cities! They protect the Criminals, not the Victims. They are disgracing our Country, and are being mocked all over the World,” Trump wrote on his social media platform. “Working on papers to withhold all Federal Funding for any City or State that allows these Death Traps to exist!!!”

Mayor Brandon Johnson acknowledged in January the receipt of a letter from Washington, D.C., that states, in summary, that Chicago and other cities like it — notably Denver, New York and Boston, all of which hold sanctuary city status like Chicago — are being investigated by the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. He testified before a Congressional panel last month.

Chicago’s policy that prevents city officials (including police officers) from cooperating with federal immigration authorities has been in place, in some form, for 40 years.

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In 2017, Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner signed a bill which barred police from arresting anyone solely due to their immigration status. Gov. JB Pritzker signed further legislation in 2021 with additional protections.

“The bipartisan Illinois TRUST Act, signed into law by a Republican governor, has always been compliant with federal law and still is today,” Pritzker said in February. “Illinois will defend our laws that prioritize police resources for fighting crime while enabling state law enforcement to assist with arresting violent criminals.”

The Department of Justice claims Illinois’ TRUST Act and Chicago’s Welcoming City Ordinance are invalid due to the Supremacy Clause.

This is a developing story and will be updated.