Advertisement - story continues below
Cracking down on illegal immigration, including sanctuary cities that protect illegal aliens, was one of President-elect Donald Trump’s most important and effective campaign stances.
That stance was recently reinforced by a USA Today report arguing that Trump’s administration will have “broad powers” in terms of prosecuting and otherwise cracking down on sanctuary cities.
The range of powerful options Trump will have includes not just federal lawsuits, but also the power to withhold hundreds of millions of dollars in grants that states and cities rely on.
Advertisement - story continues below
In fact, the report noted, Trump wouldn’t even need much help from Congress in his showdown with sanctuary cities, although it would test the legal limits of the White House.
Jessica Vaughan, director for the Center for Immigration Studies, argued that the Trump administration should initially focus on getting sanctuary cities to switch direction. However, if they are unwilling to do so — as they likely will be — the administration would have to commence a legal battle.
“The point is not to go around whacking all these little cities and counties, it’s to get them to do the right thing,” Vaughan told USA Today. “And for the die-hards, to confront them.”
Advertisement - story continues below
One of the biggest weapons of confrontation will come from the Justice Department, especially if led by attorney general-nominee Sen. Jeff Sessions, an outspoken critic of illegal immigration.
As attorney general, Sessions could sue sanctuary cities for violating federal law in their refusal to cooperate with immigration enforcement.
Another weapon in Trump’s arsenal against sanctuary cities would be his administration’s ability to cut federal funding.
Both the Justice Department and Homeland Security could pull grant money that helps local law enforcement agencies hire officers, bolster prosecutions, fund courts, jails, drug treatment programs and crime victim assistance.
Advertisement - story continues below
There are currently 300 communities that fall under the term “sanctuary city” because of their policies protecting the nation’s 11 million undocumented immigrants from deportation.
Trump’s crackdown on these communities — as well as other illegal immigration issues — will be one of the most telling aspects of his presidential legacy.
H/T Breitbart
Like and share on Facebook and Twitter if you’re glad to hear that Trump will be able to crack down on sanctuary cities that protect illegal immigrants.
