The U.S. Department of Justice on Friday specifically threatened to withhold grant money from nine jurisdictions it deems "sanctuary cities", demanding the cities release proof they are in compliance with a law that requires them to share information with federal authorities, including immigration officials. The Justice Department (DOJ) announced Friday afternoon it is forcing nine communities that have been refusing to cooperate with federal immigration authorities that they will have to prove they are complying with a U.S. Immigration Laws in order to continue receiving Law Enforcement Grant Money. New York Police Commissioner James O'Neill pointed that out on Twitter, calling the Justice Department's statement a "willful distortion of the facts".
New York City's past three months were among the safest on record, city officials said. Their policies, they say, are meant to maintain trust between law enforcement and communities by not complicating their work with the duties of federal immigration officers.
The grants in question are among the largest handed out under the program, collectively amounting to 11 percent of the $256 million distributed under the program in the last fiscal year.
"It's not our job to enforce federal law but if we're asked by ICE or Border Patrol or another federal agency to help out with a situation regarding an immigration issue, we stand by the federal government", said Las Cruces Mayor Ken Miyagishima. Each letter was signed by Alan R. Hanson, the acting director of the Office of Justice Programs, which administers the Byrne law enforcement grant program.
The mayor also personally invited the attorney general and the president to say it to New York's face.
City spokeswoman Lauren Hitt said Friday, following receipt of the letter, that the city was already aware of the requirement to comply with the law cited in the letter.
The letters are the latest move by the Trump administration to make good on campaign promises to cut federal funding to cities that don't fully comply with federal immigration enforcement efforts.
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"As made very clear in the Department's release, it is New York City's policies that are soft on crime". "We don't think our policies violate any federal statutes".
Clark County manager Yolanda King said the county is "absolutely in compliance" with the federal law.
The grant is also likely one of only three the federal government can now withhold from sanctuary cities.
Earlier in the week, Attorney General Jeff Sessions said sanctuary cities are responsible for undermining efforts to fight violent gangs.
Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele said that community is hardly succumbing to violence.
According to the Washington Post, the letters were sent to New Orleans; Philadelphia; the city of Chicago; Clark County, NV; Miami-Dade County, FL; Milwaukee County, WI; Cook County, IL, and New York City.
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