In a significant policy shift, Louisville, Kentucky, has decided to abandon its sanctuary city status following pressure from the Department of Justice.
This move comes as a response to a stern warning issued by U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, who announced the development on X. "In a major victory for the Department of Justice, the city of Louisville is dropping its sanctuary city policies as a result of a strong written warning from my office," Bondi stated.
She further emphasized, "This should set an example to other cities. Instead of forcing us to sue you which we will, without hesitation follow the law, get rid of sanctuary policies, and work with us to fix the illegal immigration crisis."
As reported by The Post Millennial, Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg, a Democrat, communicated the rationale behind this policy reversal in a letter. He indicated that the decision was made to avoid potential conflicts with the Trump administration over sanctuary city policies.
Greenberg explained, "My understanding is that, by returning to our pre-2017 practices and again honoring 48-hour detainers, thereby functionally extending the notice period to DHS from 5-12 hours to 48 hours, Louisville will no longer be considered a sanctuary jurisdiction and, as a result, will no longer be vulnerable to the negative consequences of this designation."
The Trump administration's firm stance on immigration enforcement has been underscored by Border Czar Tom Homan's declaration to deploy ICE agents to sanctuary cities. Bondi had previously warned Louisville that non-compliance with ICE detainers could result in funding freezes and legal challenges. The city had been releasing illegal immigrant suspects before ICE could take them into custody, as it was not adhering to the 48-hour detainer period.
Mayor Greenberg, in a press release, highlighted the financial implications of maintaining sanctuary status, stating, "Louisville stands to lose hundreds of millions of dollars in federal grants if we remain classified as a sanctuary city." He stressed the importance of these funds, which support essential services for the city's vulnerable residents.
Greenberg added, "I will not risk hurting them either. I believe we will best protect our law-abiding immigrant community and our entire city by focusing the Trump Administrations immigration enforcement actions on the few inmates in our jail who have been arrested for committing crimes and are subject to deportation."
This development underscores the ongoing tension between federal immigration policies and local governance, as cities navigate the complexities of compliance and community welfare. Louisville's decision reflects a pragmatic approach to safeguarding its financial stability while addressing the broader immigration enforcement landscape.
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