Court Halts Trump's Effort to Withdraw Financial Aid from 34 Cities and Regions due to 'Sanctuary' Policies

In a bid to continue its mission of providing unflinching, fact-based journalism for the next 20 years, HuffPost is seeking reader support. The news outlet has been a beacon of fearless reporting for two decades, covering a wide range of topics, including the ongoing debate surrounding sanctuary cities.

The term "sanctuary cities" describes places that limit cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Over 500 jurisdictions were listed as sanctuary jurisdictions by the Department of Homeland Security in May, including cities like Boston, Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, and 30 other cities and counties.

The Department of Homeland Security informed these jurisdictions that they were noncompliant and could be in violation of federal criminal statutes. In response, several cities and counties sued, claiming that billions of dollars were at risk if they were to comply with the federal government's immigration efforts.

The Trump administration has taken a firm stance on this issue, with another order directing every federal agency to ensure that payments to state and local governments do not "abet so-called 'sanctuary' policies that seek to shield illegal aliens from deportation." The administration has also sued cities like New York and Los Angeles over their sanctuary policies.

However, a preliminary injunction by U.S. District Judge William Orrick in San Francisco has blocked the Trump administration from cutting off or conditioning the use of federal funds for sanctuary jurisdictions. Judge Orrick's earlier order protected more than a dozen other cities and counties, including San Francisco, Portland, and Seattle.

It's important to note that there is no strict definition for sanctuary cities, but they generally limit cooperation with ICE. ICE enforces immigration laws nationwide and seeks help from state and local authorities to identify immigrants wanted for deportation and hold them for federal officers.

The list of "sanctuary jurisdictions" was later removed from the department's website, adding another layer of complexity to this contentious issue. As HuffPost continues to provide comprehensive coverage of this topic, reader support is crucial to ensure that the outlet can continue its mission of delivering unflinching, fact-based journalism.