The U.S. Department of Justice had identified eight so-called "sanctuary cities" where the majority of undocumented immigrants are hiding, and threatened to cut government funding on these cities if they will continue to not cooperate with federal authorities on President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown.
According to ABS CBN News, Trump has vowed to strip federal funds from the state of California; New York City; Chicago; Philadelphia; Clark County, Nevada; New Orleans; Miami-Dade County, Florida; and Milwaukee County, Wisconsin.
The federal fund is roughly $29 million in law enforcement aid under the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program, which helps local governments pay for everything from forensics labs to drug courts.
Sanctuary Cities
"Sanctuary cities" in general offer safe harbor to illegal immigrants and often do not use municipal funds or resources to advance the enforcement of federal immigration laws.
Many of these localities say they do not have the funding or space to hold immigrants until federal agents can take custody of them.
Trump had earlier argued that these states endanger public safety when they decline to hand over for deportation illegal immigrants who are arrested for crimes.
Deported Filipino TNTs
One undocumented Filipino, Rey Galleon, was sent back to the Philippines on March 17 after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel went to their home in Southern California asking neighbors about his and his wife's whereabouts.
A week later, two more Filipinos were arrested along with 84 foreigners. The U.S. ICE did not name the two Filipinos but said the arrests were carried out in the U.S. Pacific Northwest region.
The Philippine embassy in Washington, D.C. has yet to issue a statement on the issue.
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