Trump vows to cut off federal funds for New York, other states with sanctuary policies

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Wednesday doubled down on his threat to revoke federal funding from New York and other states that have so-called sanctuary policies, even as similar attempts by the administration have been struck down in the courts.

Starting Feb. 1, sanctuary jurisdictions — those limiting local government cooperation with federal immigration agencies — will receive "NO MORE PAYMENTS" from the federal government, Trump said in a Truth Social post after issuing a similar threat a day earlier at a speech in Detroit.

"We are 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 during his speech Tuesday to the Detroit Economic Club.

Gov. Kathy Hochul on Wednesday vowed to challenge any attempts to withhold federal funding from the state, and she pushed back on Trump’s characterization. Hochul said state authorities do cooperate with federal immigration enforcers "whenever there’s a threat" and when "someone has actually committed a crime."

"This is just a threat to intimidate states like New York into bowing into submission, and that is something we'll never do," Hochul told reporters in Albany when asked about the president’s social media post. "So I say this: You touch any more money from the State of New York, we'll see you in court."

The White House did not return a request for comment on Hochul’s remarks, nor did it respond to questions about the scope of Trump’s effort to block funding next month.

Last fiscal year, the state received about $96.7 billion in federal funding, representing about 39% of the state’s overall budget, according to an analysis by state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli.

The Trump administration has previously tried to suspend funding to more than two dozen states and cities with sanctuary laws. But last August, a federal judge in San Francisco issued a temporary injunction barring the administration from blocking the funding.

U.S. District Judge William Orrick, an Obama appointee, ruled that Trump overstepped his presidential powers by ordering the suspension of funds. The judge in his ruling asserted that it is Congress’ duty under the U.S. Constitution to set conditions on federal funding.

The administration has since appealed the injunction to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

In New York, the Trump administration has so far been unsuccessful in its push to overturn a state law that allows motorists to obtain a license regardless of their immigration status.

Last February, the Department of Justice sued Hochul and state officials over New York’s "Green Light Law" that allows motorists to obtain a license without a social security number, by using other forms of identification including passports and licenses issued in other countries, in addition to passing a driving exam.

The Justice Department argued that the state law is illegal because it supersedes federal law. But in a ruling last month, U.S. District Judge Anne M. Nardacci in Albany sided with New York officials, stating the Trump administration "failed" to make the case that the law violates the U.S. Constitution’s Supremacy Clause.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), in a statement issued after Trump’s Tuesday speech, noted the state’s track record of winning lawsuits against the administration and urged state officials to "to again file suit against these illegal acts."

"Funding for essential programs like Medicare, Social Security, health care, child care, education, law enforcement, anti-hunger initiatives and transportation is not his to withhold," Gillibrand said.

By Laura Figueroa Hernandez

laura.figueroa@newsday.com@Laura_Figueroa

Laura Figueroa Hernandez is the White House correspondent and previously covered New York City politics and government. She joined Newsday in 2012 after covering state and local politics for The Miami Herald.