As Trump Threatens Sanctuary Cities, New York City Could Lose $7B in Federal Funds

 

by Amy Plitt

In November, Mayor Bill de Blasio pledged that New York City would remain a sanctuary city for the estimated 500,000 undocumented immigrants who currently call its five boroughs home, even in the face of the Trump administration’s promises throughout his presidential campaign to revoke federal funding for municipalities who vow to protect those residents.

It’s a stance he doubled down on last week on The Brian Lehrer Show on WNYC, when he said “we have to start to evolve this discussion” on immigration and sanctuary cities.

But now, it seems that may be put to the test: Earlier today, Trump press secretary Sean Spicer said during a press conference that the White House would sign two executive orders about immigration. (Update: The orders are now posted on the White House website.) One would order the planning and construction of the border wall between the United States and Mexico that was one of Trump’s core campaign promises.

The other would take aim at immigration, both through deporting undocumented immigrants and taking action against sanctuary cities—including, of course, New York. More than a dozen cities throughout New York State have also pledged to be sanctuary cities, and Governor Andrew Cuomo has called the entire state a “refuge” for those who feel unsafe in the age of Trump. 

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Source: Curbed New York (via The Empire Report)