Albuquerque and Denver are among the cities that may see a decline in federal funding beginning on February 1 due to a new announcement by President Trump regarding their status as sanctuary cities.
Such cities are generally described as limiting cooperation with the federal government when it comes to enforcing immigration law.
The cites have increasingly been subject to criticism by the Trump Administration with Attorney General Pam Bondi last summer issuing a statement saying that “sanctuary policies impeded law enforcement and put American citizens at risk by design.”
Bondi also said that the Justice Department was determined to bring litigation against “sanctuary jurisdictions and work closely with the Department of Homeland Security to eradicate these harmful policies around the country.”
In July, Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller issued an executive order that in essence defined the Duke City as a sanctuary city, remarking in the process: “We will not stand by silently as our neighbors and friends are living in fear, and we will protect due process for all people living in our city.”
That executive order prohibits any City of Albuquerque agency or department to assist in federal immigration enforcement efforts or in any way doing anything to support Immigration and Customs Enforcement work.
Denver became a sanctuary city some 12 years ago, with Mayor Mike Johnston in Congressional testimony last year saying that while the Mile High City generally resists ICE, local police forces will nevertheless “work with federal agents to prosecute violent criminals.”
In an address this week to the Detroit Economic Club, Trump said sanctuary cities “do everything possible to protect criminals at the expense of American citizens.”
Such cities, Trump remarked in a separate statement, “breed crime and violence.”
What exact federal funds will be denied the cities has not been specially stated, although various reports have said they will most likely be related to various grants and contracts.
When subsequently asked by reporters to more specifically spell out the type of funding, Trump would only comment: “You’ll see. It will be significant.”
January 15, 2026
By Garry Boulard
Photo courtesy of Pixabay
