Mayors who refuse to comply with federal immigration laws are facing increasing pressure as the Trump administration signals that consequences may be on the way. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and former acting DHS Secretary Chad Wolf have both spoken out about the need to hold sanctuary city leaders accountable.
During an appearance on Fox News, Noem was asked if federal authorities plan to take action against officials who obstruct immigration enforcement. “Nobody’s above the law,” she responded. “Of course we will.” She added that she will follow President Donald Trump’s directives on how to handle sanctuary city defiance.
Sanctuary city mayors are completely out of touch with the American people.
They care more about protecting illegal alien criminals than their own citizens.
More from @Sec_Noem ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/Zijioq2tKE
— House Homeland GOP (@HomelandGOP) January 31, 2025
Sanctuary cities limit local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, making it more difficult for agencies like Immigration and Customs Enforcement to detain and deport illegal immigrants. Noem admitted these policies create obstacles but insisted that federal operations will continue. “They are limiting some of our tools that we want in our toolbox, but we’re going to continue to go in and use our operations,” she said.
Sanctuary City Mayor Adams is upset about his policies: "We turned this city around in 20 months and then what happened? A madman down in Texas decided he wanted to bus people up to New York City. 110,000 migrants we have to feed, clothe, house, give them everything they need." pic.twitter.com/3511gB9iYF
— TheBlaze (@theblaze) September 7, 2023
Chad Wolf focused on Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, who has vowed to keep his city a refuge for migrants. “He is protecting criminal aliens in his community,” Wolf said in an interview with Newsmax. He argued that the Department of Justice should investigate whether officials who obstruct federal law should be penalized.
Johnson has defended his stance, but Wolf warned that such policies put Americans at risk. “They’re on the wrong side of history when it comes to protecting their citizens and protecting their community from dangerous illegal aliens,” he said.
In one of its first moves to restore immigration enforcement, DHS recently revoked an extension of Temporary Protected Status for 600,000 Venezuelan nationals, reversing a policy implemented in the final days of the Biden administration.
