- Title: NY promises legal fight if federal funds withheld over immigration enforcement
- Date: 25th January 2017
- Summary: NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (JANUARY 25, 2017) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PROTEST AGAINST U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP'S IMMIGRATION ACTIONS AT WASHINGTON SQUARE PARK
- Embargoed: 8th February 2017 23:18
- Keywords: Immigration Donald Trump executive order Visa ban Muslim Mexico sanctuary city immigrants New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio
- Location: NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES
- City: NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES
- Country: USA
- Topics: Asylum/Immigration/Refugees,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA00260KZ9S7
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio promised a legal fight against the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump if any attempt is made to withhold federal funds over immigration enforcement.
Trump plans to make good on his campaign pledge to block federal funding to states and cities where local law enforcement refuse to report undocumented immigrants they encounter to federal authorities.
"If any action is taken as a result to restrict our funding, at that point we will bring legal action to stop it," said de Blasio at a news conference at City Hall on Wednesday (January 25).
De Blasio, surrounded by various city officials including his police commissioner, James O'Neill, also reassured city residents that the New York City Police Department would not be used to enforce the new Trump executive orders.
"We have come so far in making this city safe and building a better relationship between police and community. We are not going to take the very people that keep us safe every day and turn them against the communities they serve," he added.
U.S. President Donald Trump's attempt to strip municipalities of federal dollars for shielding illegal immigrants threatens $2.27 billion in annual funds for the nation's ten largest cities, including $701 million for New York City, a Reuters analysis of federal grants found.
White House press secretary Sean Spicer said an executive order signed by Trump on Wednesday directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to look at federal funding to cities to figure out "how we can defund those streams."
Mayors and city councils of those cities have said that they will not be pressured to report illegal immigrants to federal agents, a point repeated by de Blasio on Wednesday.
"We're not going to allow our police officers to be used as immigration enforcement agents, its very simple," said de Blasio.
"We will not deport law-abiding New Yorkers. We will not tear families apart. We will not leave children without their parents," added de Blasio.
While Trump has the authority to cut some kinds of funding to the cities, cuts to other federal funding would require an act of Congress.
Though details remain vague, the order could jeopardize billions of dollars in housing, health, education and other types of federal aid.
Trump's plans to spur job growth and boost the economy would likely be harmed by federal funding cuts in many cities. Many public workers' salaries could be in jeopardy as well as the facilities and institutions that keep American trade moving, such as ports. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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