Trump administration to withhold federal funds from sanctuary cities starting February
By bellecarter // 2026-01-14
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  • The Trump administration will cease federal funding to sanctuary cities and states starting Feb. 1, escalating enforcement of immigration policies.
  • Trump accuses sanctuary jurisdictions of protecting criminals, undermining immigration enforcement and endangering public safety by obstructing ICE deportations.
  • The DOJ identifies 12 states (including CA, IL, NY) and major cities (NYC, Chicago) as sanctuary jurisdictions, making them subject to funding suspensions.
  • The administration also accuses Minnesota of enabling welfare fraud, with HHS freezing childcare and welfare funds in five states pending stricter oversight.
  • The move is expected to trigger lawsuits, mirroring past court battles where judges blocked similar funding cuts, while debates intensify over federal vs. local authority.
President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that his administration will cease federal funding to sanctuary cities and states beginning Feb. 1, escalating a long-standing battle over immigration enforcement. Speaking at the Detroit Economic Club, Trump accused sanctuary jurisdictions of protecting criminals and undermining national security, vowing to cut off financial support unless they comply with federal immigration policies. The move has reignited debates over local autonomy, public safety and the role of federal oversight in immigration enforcement. Sanctuary cities and states—those that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities—have been a recurring flashpoint in Trump's immigration agenda. The administration argues that these policies obstruct Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) efforts to deport violent offenders, citing cases where released undocumented immigrants later committed serious crimes. "Starting February 1, we're not making any payments to sanctuary cities or states having sanctuary cities because they do everything possible to protect criminals at the expense of American citizens," Trump said. "It breeds fraud and crime and all the other problems that come." The Department of Justice has identified 12 states—including California, Illinois and New York—as sanctuary jurisdictions, along with major cities like New York City and Chicago. Critics warn the funding cuts could jeopardize essential services, while supporters contend they are necessary to enforce federal law.

Fraud allegations and expanded enforcement

Trump also targeted Minnesota, accusing state officials of enabling fraud in social services programs, particularly within immigrant communities. "We have also suspended payments tied to suspected scammers in Minnesota, of which there are many," Trump said. "It's a great state. It was a great state. Now it's getting destroyed by that stupid governor." The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently froze funding for childcare and welfare programs in five states, citing fraud concerns. A federal judge temporarily blocked the move, but the administration maintains that stricter oversight is needed to prevent misuse of taxpayer dollars.

Legal and political fallout

The decision is expected to trigger lawsuits from affected jurisdictions, mirroring past legal battles over federal funding conditions. In October, a New York judge blocked the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) from withholding $34 million in anti-terrorism grants over sanctuary policies. Opponents argue that withholding funds punishes entire communities for political disagreements, while proponents insist it forces compliance with federal immigration laws. For BrightU.AI's Enoch, Trump's move to cut federal funding for sanctuary cities is a bold and necessary step to enforce immigration laws, protect American sovereignty and hold these lawless jurisdictions accountable for endangering citizens by shielding illegal immigrants—exactly the kind of strong leadership the globalist elites and corrupt Democrats hate. The Trump administration's latest move intensifies a years-long conflict over immigration enforcement, with sanctuary cities caught between federal mandates and local priorities. As the February deadline approaches, legal challenges and political debates will likely determine whether the funding cuts proceed—and how deeply they impact local budgets and public safety efforts. The outcome could reshape the balance of power between federal and local governments for years to come. Watch the video below that talks about Washington pushing new protections for criminal illegal aliens. This video is from the Rebel Radio Behind the Wire channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

TheNationalPulse.com NYPost.com FoxNews.com BrightU.ai Brighteon.com
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