Americans don’t trust the Department of Justice anymore. The Trump admin is changing that.
Because Trump’s Attorney General just sent out a game-changing order for the DOJ.
Attorney General Pam Bondi Takes Immediate Action on Sanctuary Cities and Immigration Enforcement
Newly appointed Attorney General Pam Bondi wasted no time in taking action against sanctuary cities following her swearing-in ceremony. On her first day in office, Bondi issued a memo instructing the Department of Justice (DOJ) to halt federal funding to sanctuary cities and launched an investigation into organizations providing assistance to illegal migrants.
Bondi’s order, delivered just moments after being sworn in as the 87th Attorney General of the United States, marks a decisive step in the ongoing battle between the Trump administration and sanctuary jurisdictions that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities. The move has the potential to spark legal challenges, particularly from major sanctuary cities like Chicago, Boston, and New York City, which prohibit local law enforcement from assisting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers.
The memo, dated Wednesday, directs the DOJ to pause the distribution of all federal grants to localities that refuse to cooperate with ICE. Bondi’s action will likely lead to a legal showdown with cities that have adopted sanctuary policies, which are designed to protect undocumented immigrants from deportation by limiting local authorities’ involvement in federal immigration enforcement.
“Consistent with applicable statutes, regulations, court orders, and terms, the Department of Justice shall pause the distribution of all funds until a review has been completed, terminate any agreements that are in violation of law or are the source of waste, fraud, or abuse, and initiate clawback or recoupment procedures, where appropriate,” Bondi’s memo reads. She goes on to state, “Sanctuary jurisdictions should not receive access to federal grants administered by the Department of Justice.”
Today, Attorney General Pam Bondi distributed a memo that directed the Department of Justice to withhold funds from jurisdictions with sanctuary policies. Trump’s first administration attempted similar actions, which were blocked by courts. However, SCOTUS has yet to weigh in. pic.twitter.com/P6ShkrLMRW
— Laura Powell (@LauraPowellEsq) February 6, 2025
The memo also calls for immediate action within the DOJ to identify and suspend funding to non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that offer support to illegal migrants. Bondi specifically instructed all DOJ components that provide funding to NGOs to evaluate and pause contracts with groups that assist undocumented individuals.
Additionally, the Attorney General called for “enforcement actions” against any sanctuary jurisdictions that hinder federal immigration efforts. “Actions that impede federal efforts to enforce immigration law threaten public safety and national security,” the memo emphasizes. “State and local jurisdictions must comply with applicable immigration-related federal laws.”
Bondi’s directive is the latest chapter in the intensifying clash between the Republican-led federal government and Democratic-led cities that have staunchly opposed President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement agenda. The Trump administration has long threatened to withhold federal funding from sanctuary cities and has pursued a more aggressive stance on immigration enforcement, citing public safety and national security concerns.
Following President Trump’s return to office in January, the DOJ established a task force to investigate sanctuary cities and, when necessary, take legal action. The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee also launched its own investigation into three prominent sanctuary cities — Boston, New York City, and Chicago — requesting relevant documents from the cities’ mayors and urging them to testify before the committee.
While the term “sanctuary” lacks a specific legal definition, it is commonly understood to refer to policies or laws that limit local cooperation with federal immigration authorities. These policies vary by jurisdiction but generally prohibit local law enforcement from detaining individuals solely on the basis of their immigration status or from notifying federal immigration authorities when undocumented individuals are arrested or incarcerated.
Although local and state officials are not obligated to outright assist federal immigration enforcement, the Trump administration has made it clear that it considers outright obstruction to be illegal. The DOJ has vowed to challenge policies that it views as undermining federal law and immigration enforcement.
In response to the Trump administration’s actions, several cities and counties have doubled down on their sanctuary policies. Boston, for example, has continued to support its sanctuary stance even after Trump’s re-election. In a controversial statement, Denver’s mayor initially suggested he would deploy police forces to prevent ICE agents from entering his city, though he later backtracked on those remarks.
Bondi’s confirmation as Attorney General came after a largely party-line vote in the Senate, which confirmed her appointment by a 54-46 vote. Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman notably broke with his party, casting a vote in favor of Bondi, who previously served as Florida’s attorney general.
With her memo, she has placed sanctuary cities and organizations assisting illegal migrants firmly in the crosshairs of federal scrutiny, setting the stage for a legal and political battle that could easily end up at the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court bench.
Attorney General Pam Bondi's first words: "Thank you, President Trump. I've known you for many, many years, and I will not let you down. I am truly honored, honored that you have asked me to take on this role, and I will make you proud, and I will make this country proud." pic.twitter.com/BlndqhY6oy
— George (@BehizyTweets) February 5, 2025
Stay tuned to the DC Daily Journal.
