A Trump administration official fired off a new threat this week to an old foe — sanctuary cities.
Florida Immigration Coalition policy expert Thomas Kennedy posted a letter on X from Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy threatening to withhold funding from local governments if they don't comply with President Donald Trump's mass immigration efforts.
"As recipients of such DOT funds, you have entered into legally enforceable agreements with the United States Government and are obligated to comply fully with all applicable Federal laws and regulations. These laws and regulations include the United States Constitution, Federal statutes, applicable rules and policy requirements, including, among others, those protecting free speech and religious liberty and those prohibiting discrimination and enforcing controls on illegal immigration," the letter said.
It goes on to say that any DEI goals and practices "presumptively violates federal law."
Other parts of the letter cite specific statutes in an attempt to support its demands.
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"In addition, your legal obligations require cooperation generally with Federal authorities in the enforcement of federal law, including cooperating with and not impeding U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other federal offices and components of the Department of Homeland Security in the enforcement of federal immigration law," the letter continues.
It did not define what "cooperation generally" means, however.
"Noncompliance with applicable federal laws, or failure to cooperate generally with federal authorities in the enforcement of federal law, will jeopardize your continued receipt of federal financial assistance from DOT and could lead to a loss of federal funding from DOT," the letter threatens.
No state or municipality has stated whether they will challenge the letter in court.