Trump vows to cut federal funds to ‘sanctuary’ cities and states starting Feb 1

DETROIT, MICHIGAN: President Donald Trump announced a sweeping financial crackdown on jurisdictions with so-called “sanctuary” policies on Tuesday January 13, vowing to cut off federal payments to cities and states that refuse to cooperate with immigration enforcement.

Speaking at the Detroit Economic Club, Trump said the freeze will take effect February 1, marking a sharp escalation in the administration’s confrontation with local governments that limit cooperation with federal authorities. He framed the move as a measure aimed at public safety and fiscal accountability.

Trump announces cutting funds for sanctuary cities  starting Feb 1 

During his speech, Trump set a firm deadline for compliance.

“Starting Feb. 1, we’re not making any payments to sanctuary cities or states having sanctuary cities,” he told the audience.

The President tied the policy directly to local rules that restrict cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, including limits on detainers and information-sharing. The administration views such practices as barriers to federal law enforcement.

“So we’re not making any payment to anybody that supports sanctuary,” Trump added.

Trump says criminals will not be protected at citizens' expense

Trump argued that sanctuary policies impose costs on local communities and undermine public safety. He accused jurisdictions with such rules of prioritizing undocumented offenders over residents.

“They do everything possible to protect criminals at the expense of American citizens,” Trump said.

He further linked sanctuary policies to broader governance problems, asserting that they create conditions that allow fraud and crime to flourish. “And it breeds fraud and crime and all of the other problems that come,” he said.

Trump slams Minnesota governor for alleged corruption

The President singled out Minnesota during his remarks, alleging “widespread fraud” in the state and pointing to actions already taken by the administration.

“We have also suspended payments tied to suspected scammers in Minnesota, of which there are many,” Trump said.

He criticized the state’s leadership, saying Minnesota “was a great state” and asserting that its decline is tied to the governor’s policies. Trump suggested that the scale of alleged fraud could not have occurred without the knowledge of state leaders.

Judge blocks childcare funding freeze

The administration’s approach faces immediate legal challenges. The announcement comes days after US District Judge Arun Subramanian ruled on January 9 that the federal government must temporarily continue child care subsidy payments in five states, including Minnesota.

Subramanian did not decide the ultimate legality of the funding freeze but found that the states met the standard to preserve the “status quo” for at least two weeks while litigation proceeds.

Despite that ruling, the Department of Health and Human Services has said it will withhold certain funds from programs in five Democratic-led states, citing concerns about fraud and misuse of federal dollars.

Administration officials said agencies are now reviewing grant programs across multiple departments to determine which streams can be lawfully paused or terminated under the new directive.