DOJ to Deny Funding to Cities Failing to Meet New Criteria
This week, the Department of Justice (DOJ) expanded its efforts to combat so-called “sanctuary cities,” stating that cities would no longer be eligible for DOJ grants unless they both allow federal immigration officers access to local prisons and also provide federal authorities with advance notice when prisoners in the country illegally are slated to be released.
Illegal immigration has been a central theme both of President Trump’s campaign and of his time in office, and DOJ has long threatened such actions.
The primary grants that would be impacted are those associated with the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Programs, which is the “leading source of federal justice funding to state and local jurisdictions” and “provides states, tribes, and local governments with critical funding necessary to support a range of program areas including law enforcement, prosecution, indigent defense, courts, crime prevention and education, corrections and community corrections, drug treatment and enforcement, planning, evaluation, technology improvement, crime victim and witness initiatives, and mental health programs and related law enforcement and corrections programs.”
"So-called 'sanctuary' policies make all of us less safe because they intentionally undermine our laws and protect illegal aliens who have committed crimes," Sessions said in a statement. "These policies also encourage illegal immigration and even human trafficking by perpetuating the lie that in certain cities, illegal aliens can live outside the law. ... We must encourage these 'sanctuary' jurisdictions to change their policies and partner with federal law enforcement to remove criminals."
As PoliceOne.com notes, “A judge in April blocked Trump's executive order aimed at withholding funding from sanctuary cities, saying the president could not set new conditions on spending approved by Congress. But the Justice Department said it still could condition some of its grants to force cities to cooperate with immigration authorities.”
The new requirements will take effect beginning in September, barring delays due to further legal challenges.