The Department of Justice has made good on its promise that grant money would be in jeopardy for so-called “sanctuary” cities and states. The threat comes around the same time a survey from the Wall Street Journal found that no members of Congress representing border territory support President Trump’s plan to build a wall. Many of them are opposed to it, with some saying they are noncommittal.
“Failure to comply with this condition could result in the withholding of grant funds, suspension or termination of the grant, ineligibility for future [Office of Justice Programs] grants or subgrants, or other action, as appropriate,” according to the letter, signed by Alan Hanson, acting assistant attorney general for the Office of Justice Programs.
According to the press release, the jurisdictions have a deadline of June 30, 2017, to “provide documentation and an opinion from legal counsel” confirming their compliance. The memo was sent on Friday to city and state officials in California, Chicago (two letters were sent to Chicago: one to Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson and another to Cook County Board of Commissioners President Toni Preckwinkle), New Orleans, Philadelphia, Las Vegas, Miami, Milwaukee and New York City.
