Justice Dept. threatens NYC, other 'sanctuary cities'
The U.S. Justice Department on Wednesday threatened to subpoena 23 jurisdictions if they don't turn over information about their "sanctuary" policies—triggering a backlash from mayors across the country who pulled out of a White House meeting, Fox News reported.
In letters to New York City, Chicago, San Francisco and other jurisdictions, the Justice Department demanded records relating to whether these localities are "unlawfully restricting information sharing by law enforcement officers with federal immigration authorities."
"I continue to urge all jurisdictions under review to reconsider policies that place the safety of their communities and their residents at risk," U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions said in a statement. "Protecting criminal aliens from federal immigration authorities defies common sense and undermines the rule of law."
Several Democratic mayors—including New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio—announced they would boycott a planned working session with the president at the White House on Wednesday.
"We have seen too many examples of the threat to public safety represented by jurisdictions that actively thwart the federal government's immigration enforcement—enough is enough," Sessions said.
The following jurisdictions received the document request:
- Chicago, Illinois;
- Cook County, Illinois;
- New York City, New York;
- State of California;
- Albany, New York;
- Berkeley, California;
- Bernalillo County, New Mexico;
- Burlington, Vermont;
- City and County of Denver, Colorado;
- Fremont, California;
- Jackson, Mississippi;
- King County, Washington;
- Lawrence, Massachusetts;
- City of Los Angeles, California;
- Louisville Metro, Kentucky;
- Monterey County, California;
- Sacramento County, California;
- City and County of San Francisco, California;
- Sonoma County, California;
- Watsonville, California;
- West Palm Beach, Florida;
- State of Illinois; and
- State of Oregon.
Read more at FoxNews.com.