It was already clear to sanctuary cities that they might not be safe under a traditional Republican administration. But a Trump White House is anything but traditional and long promised to go after those cities.
Most already accepted this to be the case not only because of his campaign promise to build a wall along the Mexican-American border but because of his widely held view that all illegal immigrants are criminals (and not necessarily because they are "illegal" immigrants).
Confirmation of this view is the controversial statement that "some are probably good people," which he made during his speech on the day he announced his candidacy.
Now, since the confirmation of Republican Senator Jeff Sessions as the new attorney general for the Department of Justice (DOJ), President Trump's determination to crack down on illegal immigration is seen as a guarantee to the completion of that campaign promise to deport illegal immigrants.
This week on behalf of the Trump White House, Attorney General Sessions warned sanctuary cities that if they did not cooperate to find and deport illegal immigrants, they were prepared to pull federal funding. The Department of Justice has reportedly sent letters to many major cities such as Chicago, Philadelphia and New York to name three as well as to officials in the state of California.
The DOJ has identified these areas as limiting information to law enforcement and federal immigration authorities, for the many illegal immigrants they already have in custody.
But many of these officials are defiant against the DOJ, such as Milwaukee County Supervisor Marina Dimitrijevic who said they would not cave to threats. The warning from the DOJ reportedly went to nine jurisdictions on Friday and are said to be targeting law enforcement grant money.
Jeff Session's comment about gangs and sanctuary cities
Jeff Sessions made these "threats" while in San Diego with Homeland Security Secretary Michael Kelly while on a tour of the U.S.-Mexico border. Here he made comments about gang violence and how they're related to sanctuary cities. He said that those jurisdictions put gang members back on the streets.
In his remarks, he claimed that a California prosecutor intentionally lowered domestic abuse charges against a repeat offender so that he wouldn't get deported. Wisconsin Republican Sen. Ron Johnson was also with Sessions, thanking federal law enforcement officials for protecting the border.
Johnson also commented on gangs saying that they were the "most evil and barbaric people" on the planet. In a show of force to the public and Trump's opposition, many of Trump's officials and supporters have made statements that refer to President Trump as a law enforcer.
This was also the case when Johnson said that there was a "new administration in town" that was going to enforce the law. In the same week, Vice-President Mike Pence made a similar statement while Japan where he said there was a new "sheriff" in town when he warned a hostile North Korea.
Update on the border wall
With his promise to build a border wall, Trump has also said that it would be one of the first things he would do as President. However, there have been major setbacks such as reportedly not being able to get Mexico to agree to pay for it as he promised his supporters.
In an interview during the first weeks of his administration, Trump adjusted his promise saying that taxpayers would pay for it first and that Mexico would pay them back. During an interview with Fox News on Thursday, Kelly stated that they were moving forward with the border wall by the end of the summer. Sessions has given sanctuary city officials until mid-June to provide reasons as to why they are refusing to comply with their demands.