Trump’s executive orders will total more than 140 during his first 100 days in office, which press secretary Karoline Leavitt said was more than the Biden administration had in four years.
Rep. Paul Gosar, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu spar during DC hearing
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu appeared at a congressional hearing in which Republican Rep. Paul Gosar of Arizona questioned her about immigration law.
Reuters
- One Trump order will ‘unleash’ law enforcement, press secretary Karoline Leavitt said.
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump will sign two executive orders to bolster immigration enforcement and highlight which jurisdictions restrict cooperation with federal law enforcement, according to press secretary Karoline Leavitt.
The signings April 28 come on the 99th day of Trump’s second term in office. His Republican administration is promoting tougher border enforcement as one of his central priorities, with what border czar Tom Homan called “historic low” border crossings.
“It’s quite simple: obey the law, respect the law and don’t obstruct federal immigration officials and law enforcement officials when they are simply trying to remove public safety threats from the nation’s communities,” Leavitt told reporters during a morning White House briefing. “This administration is determined to enforce our immigration laws.”
DOJ, DHS to highlight sanctuary cities: Leavitt
The first order aims to “strengthen and unleash America’s law enforcement to pursue and protect innocent citizens,” Leavitt said.
The second order calls on Attorney General Pam Bondi and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to publish a list of the communities nicknamed “sanctuary” jurisdictions. Leavitt said the communities “obstruct the enforcement of federal immigration laws.”
Homan said he would visit Rochester, New York, on April 29 to support local law enforcement officers after several were disciplined for aiding a Homeland Security official who called for emergency assistance.
“Cops need to help cops. But they got disciplined,” Homan said. “I’m going up there to support the men and women of law enforcement.”
Focus on sanctuary cities arrives amid court battles
The administration’s conflict with sanctuary cities and states is being fought in court. Leavitt’s announcement came after FBI agents arrested a local Wisconsin judge on April 18 for allegedly interfering with federal authorities trying to arrest an immigrant who didn’t have legal authorization to be in the country.
Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan was charged with alleged interference with a federal law enforcement operation and unlawful concealment of an individual subject to arrest.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials and others were trying to arrest Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, a Mexican citizen previously removed from the U.S. and recently charged with multiple counts of domestic abuse-related battery. Dugan allegedly directed the federal authorities away from Flores-Ruiz after he appeared in her court.
Dugan had an initial appearance in court April 25 to be advised of her rights and her arraignment is scheduled May 15. Trump blasted the judge on April 27 as “terrible.”
Lawsuits challenge validity of sanctuary cities
A group of 16 cities and counties filed a lawsuit against Trump’s policy withholding federal funding from so-called sanctuary jurisdictions that limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.
U.S. District Judge William Orrick in San Francisco blocked the policy on April 24 by ruling the government was unlawfully trying to force cooperation from jurisdictions such as Minneapolis, Portland, Santa Fe and Seattle.
The Trump administration isn’t always the defendant. Bondi sued Illinois, Chicago and Cook County alleging they “obstruct” federal authorities from enforcing immigration laws.
Bondi also sued New York state and its Department of Motor Vehicles for a “green-light” law that limits cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.
“The American public doesn’t want illegal criminal aliens in their communities,” Leavitt said. “They made that quite clear on Nov. 5.”