President Trump absolutely should end federal funding to sanctuary cities — and not a moment too soon. What we’re witnessing across jurisdictions that openly shield criminality is not compassion, not humanitarian concern, and certainly not sound governance. It is lawlessness masquerading as activism. And the consequences are no longer theoretical. They are measurable, deadly, and devastating to American families.
Sanctuary cities have declared themselves exempt from federal immigration law. They proudly refuse cooperation with ICE. They release criminal aliens back into communities. They posture morally while simultaneously tying the hands of law enforcement. And then they demand billions of federal dollars from the very taxpayers endangered by their defiance.
That contradiction cannot continue.
The Trump administration’s move to cut off federal funding to sanctuary cities and states is not punitive — it is corrective. It is a demand for accountability. If you refuse to enforce federal law, you should not receive federal subsidies. That principle is neither radical nor cruel. It is common sense.
The results of sanctuary policies are now undeniable.
We have watched Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan transnational criminal gang, establish a presence inside the United States — including high-profile incidents in Colorado where apartment complexes were effectively commandeered by armed gang members. This did not happen in communities that aggressively enforce the law. It happened where enforcement was deliberately weakened.
Criminal organizations seek out sanctuary jurisdictions for one reason: they are safe havens. Criminal aliens know that local police are forbidden from cooperating with federal authorities. They know detainers will be ignored. They know political leaders will side with ideology over enforcement. That is not speculation — it is operational reality.
Recommended
Sanctuary cities didn’t stumble into this problem. They engineered it.
And it goes far beyond violent gangs.
The fentanyl epidemic — which has poisoned and killed hundreds of thousands of Americans — is inseparable from lax border enforcement and sanctuary policies that obstruct federal cooperation. Drug traffickers exploit porous systems. Sanctuary jurisdictions become distribution corridors. Local leaders deny responsibility while families bury their children.
This is the true cost of sanctuary activism.
Meanwhile, politicians who champion these policies portray themselves as defenders of immigrants, even as they create conditions that endanger both citizens and lawful immigrants alike. Crime spikes. Emergency services are overwhelmed. Schools strain under uncontrolled population surges. Housing collapses. And yet the same officials demand more federal money — money extracted from communities that obey the law.
That is the gravy train President Trump is right to end.
Let’s be clear about what this is not about.
This is not about targeting people based on race or nationality. It is not about cruelty. It is not about mass roundups or hysteria. It is about enforcing the law — particularly against criminal aliens — and restoring cooperation between local and federal authorities.
Sanctuary policies do the opposite. They elevate ideology over safety. They instruct police departments to ignore lawful detainers. They substitute political theater for public protection. And when the predictable results occur — violence, drugs, exploitation — the same leaders blame everyone but themselves.
We have seen where this style of activism leads. It is reckless. It inflames tensions. It encourages confrontation. And in some cases, it has turned deadly — the result of rhetoric that treats law enforcement as the enemy and defiance as virtue.
The federal government has both the authority and the obligation to say “enough.”
Federal funding is leverage — and it should be used. Taxpayer dollars should support cooperation, not sabotage. They should reinforce public safety, not underwrite defiance. Cities and states that want federal money should meet federal standards. That is how governance works.
Opponents will scream. Lawsuits will fly. Sanctuary leaders will insist they are victims. But the American people are no longer fooled. They see the results in crime statistics, overdose deaths, overwhelmed hospitals, and destabilized neighborhoods.
Sanctuary cities have made a choice. President Trump is simply responding to it.
If you want to ignore federal law, do so without federal funding.
If you want to shield criminals, do it without taxpayer support.
If you want to posture politically, stop sending the bill to families who are paying the price with their safety and their lives.
This moment demands resolve, not retreat.
Mr. President, you are right to draw the line. Cut them off now. End the corruption. End the defiance. Restore the rule of law — and put American safety back where it belongs: first.
Editor’s Note: Do you enjoy Townhall’s conservative reporting and opinion? Support our work by joining Townhall VIP! Use the promo code FIGHT to get 60% off your VIP membership!
Join the conversation as a VIP Member