The president plans to direct his administration to compile a list of “sanctuary cities” that do not cooperate with federal enforcement of immigration laws.
President Trump plans to sign two executive orders on Monday that will ramp up his immigration crackdown, including one targeting local jurisdictions that the administration says are not cooperating with its aggressive actions on deportations.
The orders will be Mr. Trump’s latest salvo against so-called sanctuary cities, meaning jurisdictions that limit or refuse to cooperate with federal officials’ efforts to arrest undocumented immigrants. As the president attempts to increase the pace of deportations, his administration has grown increasingly frustrated that some jurisdictions won’t hold migrants in jail beyond their release dates to make it easier for federal officials to detain them.
Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, said Monday that one executive order would direct Pam Bondi, the attorney general, and Kristi Noem, the secretary of homeland security, to publish a list of state and local jurisdictions that the Trump administration considers “sanctuary cities,” while the administration pursues legal action against officials it says are impeding enforcement efforts.
Ms. Leavitt said the second executive order will “unleash America’s law enforcement to pursue criminals.” The New York Post reported that the order was expected to address legal support for officers accused of wrongdoing and military equipment for local police departments.
The Trump administration has already sued the city of Rochester, N.Y., accusing officials there of illegally impeding immigration enforcement. And the Justice Department is prosecuting a Milwaukee judge on charges of obstructing immigration agents.
Rochester’s mayor, Malik D. Evans, and City Council president, Miguel Meléndez, released a joint statement on Friday criticizing the lawsuit.