Trump Crackdown Will Put This Arizona City Under Legal Scrutiny

Last week, I spoke to some of our local law enforcement and asked how things were changing on Arizona's border with Mexico. "Things have changed a lot," I was told.

According to Newsweek, last month saw the lowest recorded southwest border crossings in history. Last year, there were an average of 155,000 crossings. This year, U.S. Customs and Border Protection shows a mere 7,180—an astronomical difference.

How Will Trump's Illegal Immigration Crackdown Affect Arizona?

The drop is due to heightened law enforcement policies on the border since President Donald Trump took office in January. Now, he's implementing another policy that will affect a major Arizona city.

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What is a Sanctuary City?

Sanctuary cities were created as a reaction to immigration law. They're places where local governments limit their cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. The aim is to protect undocumented immigrants.

Those in favor of sanctuary cities say they hope to reduce fears that illegal migrants will be deported or separated from their families. Sanctuary cities shield migrants from possible repercussions of reporting crimes, using health and social services, or enrolling their children in school.

Opponents believe sanctuary cities undermine the rule of law and lead to heightened concerns about public safety.

Will Donald Trump and DOGE Slash Social Security in Arizona?

How Trump's Immigration Order Could Affect Arizona's Sanctuary Cities

A major city in Arizona is considered a sanctuary city. Tucson became a sanctuary city in 2012, and the policy sparked heated debates, and the contention continues.

Donald Trump is expanding his immigration crackdown on sanctuary cities and threatening to withhold federal funding for them. This could hit Tucson hard.

Federal grants support many city programs, from public safety to infrastructure. Losing funding could force the city to cut services or raise local taxes. The price of remaining a sanctuary city could shift the financial burden to Tucson taxpayers.

According to Fox10, President Trump plans to sign an executive order this week to put cities like Tucson in the political spotlight.

Sanctuary cities and states could lose their federal funding and could end up with criminal and civil suits if they refuse to follow federal immigration law.

Sources: Newsweek | U.S. Customs and Border Protection | Wikipedia | USCIS Guide