In a recent move that tightens the federal government's stance on immigration enforcement, the President has issued an executive order aimed at cracking down on sanctuary jurisdictions that obstruct federal immigration laws. According to a release on the White House's official website, the order mandates the Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security to publish a list of states and local jurisdictions that they determine to be violating federal immigration policies.
Within this order, sanctuary jurisdictions are defined as those that stand in defiance of federal law, with the executive branch to clearly identify federal funds to possibly suspend or terminate as a consequence. The President stated, "The prior administration allowed unchecked millions of aliens to illegally enter the United States," adding that this posed increased public safety and national security risks, as mentioned in the same press release. The order claims it is a federal obligation to protect against what it refers to as an "invasion at the southern border."
Furthermore, under the new provisions, jurisdictions that retain their sanctuary status after being notified could face legal remedies and enforcement measures. Additionally, the Secretary of Homeland Security is directed to develop guidelines to ensure eligibility verification for individuals receiving federal public benefits within these jurisdictions. The move is said to be a measure to restore the enforcement of U.S. law in matters of immigration and national sovereignty.
Sanctuary jurisdictions are given 30 days to comply post-identification, and face significant federal funding repercussions if they fail to adjust their policies in line with the new order. The consequences set forth are meant to bind these jurisdictions to deferentially abide by federal immigration laws. The President emphasized the need to "restore the enforcement of United States law," indicating a shift towards stricter immigration control measures, as reported by the White House.
The order also addresses issues of alleged discrimination, asserting that state and local policies that favor aliens over American citizens often violate civil rights protections and are preempted by federal law. This includes reviewing state laws that might provide in-state higher education tuition to aliens but not to out-of-state American citizens. "Equal treatment of Americans" is a phrase underscored in the order's text, as per the White House press release.
While the President's order has been positioned as a measure to ensure national security and uphold federal law supremacy, it is expected to face varying levels of opposition and legal scrutiny from those jurisdictions that have operated as sanctuaries for immigrants. The stipulations laid out in the executive order have yet to unfold in practice, and the impact on local communities and funding remains to be fully evaluated.
