OFF THE MAP: President Trump says the government will stop funding sanctuary cities: “Starting February 1st, we’re not making any payments to sanctuary cities or states having sanctuary cities because they do everything possible to protect criminals at the expense of American citizens.” “It breeds fraud and crime and all of the other problems that come.

President Donald Trump ignited a new political firestorm after declaring that the federal government will stop funding sanctuary cities and states, drawing a hard line in his administration’s intensifying crackdown on immigration policy.

“Starting February 1st, we’re not making any payments to sanctuary cities or states having sanctuary cities,” Trump said in a blunt statement. “They do everything possible to protect criminals at the expense of American citizens.”

The announcement marks one of Trump’s most aggressive moves yet against jurisdictions that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Sanctuary policies, adopted by dozens of cities and several states, typically restrict local law enforcement from assisting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in certain cases. Supporters argue the policies build trust between immigrant communities and police; critics say they shield criminals and undermine federal law.

Trump left no room for ambiguity.

“It breeds fraud and crime and all of the other problems that come,” he said, framing sanctuary jurisdictions as threats to public safety and fiscal responsibility.

The declaration immediately sent shockwaves through city halls and state governments across the country, many of which rely heavily on federal funding for infrastructure, housing, healthcare, and public safety programs. Legal experts predict swift court challenges, noting that previous attempts to broadly defund sanctuary jurisdictions have faced constitutional hurdles.

Democratic leaders accused Trump of using federal dollars as political leverage and warned that cutting funds would punish residents — not local officials. Republican allies, meanwhile, praised the move as long overdue, arguing that federal money should not flow to governments that refuse to cooperate with immigration enforcement.

The looming deadline sets the stage for a high-stakes confrontation between the White House and sanctuary jurisdictions nationwide. With billions potentially on the line and legal battles all but guaranteed, Trump’s message was unmistakable: comply with federal immigration priorities — or be cut off.

As February 1 approaches, the question is no longer whether the fight is coming, but how far it will go — and how much of the country could be pulled into it.