The Justice Department on Thursday said it will withhold federal grant money to law enforcement agencies in so-called "sanctuary cities" unless they assist Homeland Security in deporting undocumented people who their departments identify.
In a memo released online, Attorney General Jeff Sessions said municipalities that have refused to comply with federal agencies seeking to deport undocumented people are endangering the safety of officers and the public. He cited a case in Portland, Ore., where an illegal alien who's been deported "20 times" was accused of sexually assaulting an elderly woman.
"By forcing police to go into more dangerous situations to re-arrest the same criminals, these policies endanger law enforcement officers more than anyone," he said. "The Department of Justice is committed to supporting our law enforcement at every level, and that's why we're asking 'sanctuary' jurisdictions to stop making their jobs harder."