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At least 37 cities are holding firm to their commitments to undocumented immigrants in the face of Donald Trump's pledge to "cancel all federal funding to sanctuary cities." Despite that threat, Politico finds that none of these cities are wavering on their policy to limit their cooperation with federal immigration officials.
But with six weeks to go until the inauguration, POLITICO identified not one city that is reconsidering its “sanctuary” policies — such as not asking residents about their immigration status or detaining people solely because of that status — on account of the presidential election.
Instead, officials in at least 37 cities listed below have doubled down since Trump’s election, reaffirming their current policies or practices in public statements, despite the threat of pushback from the incoming administration, and at least four cities have newly declared themselves sanctuary cities since Trump’s win. Ten other cities have said they will wait to see what Trump does but are not currently making any changes, according to local news reports and inquiries from POLITICO.
Trump's pledge to cut off all federal funding to such cities would face significant legal hurdles. As immigration attorney David Leopold writes: Sanctuary cities are following immigration law. Still, don't put it past Trump to try—there's nothing he hates more than anyone who defies his wishes, regardless of whether those wishes are legal.