WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said Thursday he plans to end sanctuary cities that provide legal refuge to undocumented immigrants.

In a Truth Social post, he said he is “working on papers to withhold all Federal Funding for any City or State that allows these Death Traps to exist!!!”

What You Need To Know

  • President Donald Trump said Thursday he plans to end sanctuary cities

  • In a Truth Social post, he said he is “working on papers to withhold all Federal Funding for any City or State that allows these Death Traps to exist!!!”

  • There are dozens of so-called sanctuary cities around the country that either limit or refuse to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Patrol to protect undocumented immigrants from deportation

  • In February, the Trump administration filed lawsuits against the states of Illinois and New York and their governors seeking to end their ability to provide sanctuary for undocumented immigrants

There are dozens of so-called sanctuary cities around the country that either limit or refuse to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Patrol to protect undocumented immigrants from deportation.

Following the national emergency declaration at the southern border that Trump signed hours after taking office, the Trump administration filed lawsuits against the states of Illinois and New York and their governors in February seeking to end their ability to provide sanctuary for undocumented immigrants. 

The lawsuits allege that migrants find safe havens from federal law enforcement where they live and work among American citizens, who may later become their crime victims. The suits seek to prohibit the states from enforcing laws they passed to protect immigrants living in the country illegally, saying they violate the U.S. Constitution.

Sanctuary cities “protect the Criminals, not the Victims," Trump said on Truth Social. "They are disgracing our Country, and are being mocked all over the World."

In February, Trump signed the Laken Riley Act to require the federal detention and deportation of undocumented immigrants accused of theft, burglary, assault on a law enforcement officer and any crime that causes death or serious bodily injury.

During the first 50 days of Trump's second term, U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement arrested 32,809 noncitizens, according to the Department of Homeland Security. Of those, 28,319 people were deported.