The executive orders focus on limiting the powers of sanctuary cities who oppose the administration’s crackdown on deportations and illegal immigration.
President Trump plans to continue pushing tougher border policies by signing two new executive orders targeting sanctuary cities. The President has previously signed orders reviving his past immigration policies from his first term, as well as authorizing mass deportations of illegal immigrants across the nations. The White House has long argued that sanctuary cities obstruct the federal government’s policies. Trump’s Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt called the first of the two new actions a way to “strengthen and unleash American law enforcement to pursue criminals and protect innocent citizens.”
The second executive order will provide more understanding of which jurisdictions are currently restricting cooperation with federal law enforcement to the highest degree. The move comes as Border Czar Tom Homan touted the “historic low level of border crossings” in the first 100 days of Trump’s second term. The President has signed a total of 140 executive orders in this time, which Press Secretary Leavitt has stated is more than President Biden signed in four years. The second order calls on Attorney General Pam Bondi and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to create a list of these sanctuary jurisdictions. Homan said he plans to travel to Rochester, New York to support local law enforcement officers who were allegedly disciplined for coming to the aid of Homeland Security officials that requested emergency assistance.
The second order also comes one week after a federal judge ruled that Trump’s direction to Bondi and Noem to restrict federal funds to sanctuary cities is likely unconstitutional. That ruling blocked the administration from carrying out a previous executive order which targeted several large districts in California that resisted an immigration crackdown. Earlier on Monday, Trump highlighted signs of 100 reportedly violent criminals that were detained and deported by his administration to mark his 100th day back in office. He is expected to sign both executive orders at 5 pm EST from the Oval Office.
The Biden Administration was criticized for its border policies. Political experts have said that the national shift on immigration policy following President Biden’s one term likely contributed to Trump’s historic political comeback. President Trump commented on the shift on Friday in an interview with Time magazine, pointing out the lack of widespread protests this time around compared to what he faced in his early days in 2017.
“I think this is another men/women’s sports thing for the Democrats,” Trump said. “America has changed.” Pollster Frank Luntz agreed with the President, citing recent numbers that showed Trump and Republicans maintain “significant and widespread support.” The same poll shows that roughly 46% of American adults approve of Trump’s handling of the southern border to begin his second term.
At the press briefing introducing the two newest executive orders, Press Secretary Leavitt highlighted figures from the U.S. Border Patrol that showed 7,200 migrants illegally crossing the border in March. This is the lowest total since 2000, and a sharp decline from December 2023’s figure of 250,000 illegal crossings.
