Executive Order on Sanctuary Cities

On 4/28/25, President Trump signed an Executive Order (EO) that, among other things, directs the Attorney General (AG) and the DHS Secretary to publish a list of states and local jurisdictions that “obstruct the enforcement of Federal immigration laws,” and to pursue all necessary legal remedies and enforcement measures to bring non-compliant jurisdictions into compliance. The EO also calls on the heads of departments and agencies to identify federal funds, including grants and contracts, that can be suspended or terminated to sanctuary jurisdictions as a consequence of their status. Further, the order instructs the AG and DHS Secretary to develop mechanisms for eligibility verification in sanctuary jurisdictions to prevent undocumented immigrants from receiving federal public benefits.

The White House issued a fact sheet on this EO.