DOJ threatens to withhold Byrne-JAG funding for sanctuary cities
Last year, President Donald Trump signed an executive order declaring that sanctuary cities are not eligible to receive federal grants.
The DOJ sent warning letters to 29 jurisdictions with sanctuary policies. U.S. Attorney Jeff Sessions threatened to withhold the Byrne-JAG funding if the cities do not comply with 8 U.S. Code 1373.
In a statement, Sessions said, “Jurisdictions that adopt so-called ‘sanctuary policies’ also adopt the view that the protection of criminal aliens is more important than the protection of law-abiding citizens and of the rule of law.”
Multiple states with sanctuary policies filed lawsuits challenging the President’s order. The DOJ already lost its case against San Francisco, Philadelphia, and Chicago regarding the matter. Last year, the district judges in Chicago and San Francisco ruled Pres. Trump and AG Sessions probably overstepped their authority. The judges stated that only Congress can impose conditions on federal funding.
AGs will continue fight draconian immigration policies
New York AG Eric Schneiderman led the AG’s coalition. According to him, “The Trump administration does not have the authority to unilaterally transform state and local police into federal immigration agents.”
