Trump’s Border Czar Tom Homan Plans to Cut Federal Funds for Sanctuary States

President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for border czar, Tom Homan, has announced plans to cut federal funding to states that refuse to cooperate with the deportation of undocumented immigrants. This could seriously affect sanctuary states, which include California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington.

Sanctuary states have policies that protect undocumented immigrants from federal immigration laws. These policies often include not complying with Immigration and Customs Enforcement ICE detainer requests, even for people convicted of serious crimes, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Although the federal government can withhold funds, there are limits. The 1987 Supreme Court ruling in South Dakota v. Dole set rules for when the government can do this, saying that conditions for withholding funds must be clear, related to the purpose of the funding, and not too forceful. However, this action could still happen if approved by Congress.

Democratic governors and mayors across the country have said they will resist Trump’s deportation plans. Tom Homan has even suggested that leaders, such as Denver Mayor Mike Johnston, could face jail time for not following immigration policies.

Homan also warned that federal funds could be taken away from states and cities that don’t support deportations. In 2022, federal grants made up 36.4% of states’ total revenue, according to Pew Research. Losing this funding could put a heavy strain on state and local budgets.

While similar actions were taken during Trump’s first term, these moves are expected to face legal challenges. The Washington Post reported that it could take years for courts to resolve disputes over these funding cuts, which could leave states and cities without vital resources in the meantime.

In the middle of these tensions, some Democratic leaders are taking a more cooperative approach. For instance, New York City Mayor Eric Adams has said he is willing to work with the Trump administration to deport undocumented immigrants who have committed crimes.

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