Newly appointed Attorney General Pam Bondi has just frozen federal funding to 220 Sanctuary Cities, and that my friends is what you call a “checkmate”!
BREAKING – Attorney General Pam Bondi has frozen federal funding to 220 sanctuary cities.
— Val (@TrumpsHurricane) February 5, 2025
The beautiful thing about having people and cities addicted to sucking off the federal teat is that you can almost immediately change any behavior you want by simply cutting off the money flow.
Want to ignore federal law and be a sanctuary city?
Ok!
Do it on your own dime.
And….good luck!
🚨BREAKING: Attorney General Pam Bondi has ordered the Department of Justice to cut off all federal funding to sanctuary cities.
What a POWERFUL first move 🔥 pic.twitter.com/1KsbeZHYuD
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) February 5, 2025
Indeed, an excellent first move right out of the gate!
Fox News explains how Bondi just issued the checkmate:
With Attorney General Pam Bondi ordering a pause on federal funds for so-called “sanctuary cities,” Fox News Digital asked leaders of both parties in states likely to be affected their thoughts, and whether they believe their cities can handle the dearth of funding.
Bondi also directed the DOJ probe instances of jurisdictions that are impeding law enforcement, and that they be prosecuted when necessary.
In Pennsylvania, at least two major cities have enacted sanctuary policies, while leaders in a third have signaled opposition to working with federal immigration authorities.
Philadelphia notably announced its new paradigm when then-Mayor Jim Kenney videotaped himself dancing in his office and singing, “We are a sanctuary city” after a judge ruled in the city’s favor on enacting such policies. The video went viral.
A representative for current Mayor Cherelle Parker declined comment on Bondi’s action when reached Thursday.
Lancaster, a blue dot in Amish country’s sea of red, also approved sanctuary city status – while Republicans at the county level passed an ordinance ensuring cooperation with the feds.
While Pittsburgh is not formally a sanctuary city, Democratic Mayor Ed Gainey recently announced: “I am not going to be working with ICE,” after border czar Tom Homan took the reins in Washington.
Democrats hold a slim, one-seat majority in the state House and the GOP controls the Senate, with Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro leading the executive branch.
ADVERTISEMENTHouse Minority Leader Jesse Topper, R-Bedford, said in a Thursday interview that it is the position of the GOP caucus to support the law.
“If these municipalities are not upholding the law, then I would expect there to be consequences, and I support that,” Topper said.
Asked what he would say if city leaders sought assistance from him, he would tell them they would have to enforce the law if they expect federal help – and that he and other lawmakers always examine closely all budget requests, whether they be from Philadelphia or elsewhere.
Topper added that Pennsylvanians showed their support for Bondi’s type of decisions when they elected Sen. David McCormick and President Donald Trump.
State Sen. Jarrett Coleman, R-Allentown, said Bondi is totally within her rights to give cities this ultimatum.
“I can’t imagine that losing that funding would be easy to manage for Philadelphia and imagine that they’re going to have some tough decisions to make,” said Coleman, who chairs the state’s panel on government operations.
Sen. Doug Mastriano – the 2022 GOP nominee for governor – said failed sanctuary city policies “put illegals ahead of our citizens.”
“Instead of admitting failure, the city leaders as well as our governor will double down and launch lawsuits for them to continue to put illegals ahead of our people,” said Mastriano, R-Gettysburg.
ADVERTISEMENTMeanwhile, Shapiro said he supports Trump’s efforts to get “criminals who are here illegally out of our communities – I want to see that happen.”
“I don’t want people who are breaking the law in our communities who are wreaking havoc on our communities or claiming lives in our communities to be here,” he added, though he did not directly address Bondi’s order.
Across the state line, New York leaders were bracing for potential action against the sanctuary state and cities like Albany and New York City.
House Speaker Carl Heastie, D-Bronx, was asked about Bondi’s order but did not respond by press time.
But Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt, R-Niagara, said Bondi is “doing exactly” what Trump promised.
RELATED REPORT:
Tom Homan Vows Potential PROSECUTION For Democrat Governor Who Bragged About Harboring An Illegal Alien
On Monday, Governor of New Jersey Phil Murphy admitted during an interview with a progressive group that he is concealing an illegal alien at his home.
"Good luck to the feds coming in to try to get her,” he challenged.
Watch his comments here:
Sounds like a job for Tom Homan.
NJ Governor Phil Murphy dares the Feds to come get the illegal immigrant he's hiding. 🤣
These people are STUPID! pic.twitter.com/YMVaYacYjH
— Bridgett Fertig (@LightOnLiberty) February 3, 2025
Unfortunately for Gov. Murphy... Tom Homan is up for the challenge.
When asked by Sean Hannity about the Governor's admission, Homan vowed to investigate and "seek prosecution" if he really is harboring an illegal alien.
Take a look:
Border Czar Tom Homan responds to NJ Governor Phil Murphy's admission that he's housing an illegal:
"If he's knowingly harboring and concealing an illegal alien, that's a violation of Title 8, U.S.C. 1324. I will seek prosecution."
Taunt ICE. Find out. pic.twitter.com/SF14obJRqM
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) February 4, 2025
JUST IN: Border Czar Tom Homan says he plans on going after NJ Governor Phil Murphy who taunted the Trump admin when he revealed that he was housing an illegal immigrant.
Murphy: We are housing an illegal above our garage. Good luck to the Feds who will try to get her.
Homan:… pic.twitter.com/a9JmGp5Nmo
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) February 4, 2025
The Daily Wire has a partial transcript:
“Let me read a headline to you: ‘Chicago leaders encourage residents to exercise their rights in resisting Trump’s deportation policies.’ The governor of New Jersey, Phil Murphy, basically admitted he knew somebody that didn’t have full documentation that he was hiding over his garage. Your comment on all of that?” Fox news host Sean Hannity asked Homan.
“I think the governor is pretty foolish … I got note of it. Won’t let it go. We’ll look into it. And if he’s knowingly, knowingly harboring, concealing an illegal alien, that’s a violation of Title VIII, United States Code 1324. I would seek prosecution or the Secretary would seek prosecution,” Homan answered.
“So maybe he’s bluffing; maybe he’s not; we’ll deal with that,” he continued., then turned to sanctuary cities. “And as far as suing sanctuary cities, well, get in line, because the Trump administration’s going to do that already. Sanctuary cities are sanctuaries for criminals. With one example, sanctuary cities in New York City. If they would have gave (sic) us over the killer of Laken Riley when he got arrested in New York City for endangering a child, he would have been in jail and he would never have killed Laken Riley. Sanctuary cities are responsible for deaths of thousands, thousands of young children throughout my career. And we’re going to sue ‘em. … Look, we’ve got the Supreme Court; that’s what President Trump wanted to do. He will end sanctuary cities.”
Bet Gov. Murphy didn't expect that!
Tom Homan is not messing around.
The New York Post reported on Gov. Murphy's original comments:
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy revealed he is housing a immigrant at his home and dared the Trump administration to do something about it.
Murphy made the admission during an interview this past weekend with Blue Wave New Jersey, a progressive grassroots organization.
“Tammy [Murphy] and I were talking about – I don’t want to get into too much detail, but there is someone in our broader universe whose immigration status is not yet at the point that they are trying to get it to. And we said, you know what? Let’s have her live at our house above our garage,” the Democrat governor said.
“And good luck to the feds coming in to try to get her,” Murphy added, seemingly hinting that the person may be an illegal immigrant. Fox News Digital reached out to Murphy’s office for more information, but they did not immediately respond.
The revelation comes as US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been conducting operations in New Jersey, most notably with a raid in Newark in late January.
We'll see how long he continues to brag about hiding criminals in his home once things get real and it's his skin on the line...
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