Trump's Anti-Sanctuary City Order Could Cut Federal Funding, Expert Says

President Donald Trump is gearing up to challenge so-called "sanctuary" jurisdictions with a fresh executive order. The move, expected Thursday, could trigger yet another round of legal battles for the administration.

Trump hinted earlier this week at his intent to curb sanctuary cities, telling reporters his plan was to "end sanctuary cities for some of these jurisdictions that aren't cooperating with law enforcement." He added bluntly, "They're guarding criminals... we may just end the entire thing all together."

Sanctuary jurisdictions, which either limit or outright refuse cooperation between local agencies and federal immigration authorities, have been a thorn in Trump's side since he took office in January. These policies have hindered his campaign promise to deport illegal immigrants swiftly. Yet, the question remains: How far can Trump push executive action to enforce compliance without facing significant legal pushback?

Former Kentucky Attorney General Daniel J. Cameron, now CEO of the 1792 Exchange, told Fox News Digital that the legal challenges are almost inevitable. "While [Trump] works tirelessly to safeguard our communities and strengthen our national security, the radical left continues to weaponize the legal system to oppose common-sense policies," Cameron said. "It will surprise no one that the radical left will double and triple down on this strategy." Honestly, his tone suggests he's fully braced for the fight.

To put the legal landscape into perspective, Trump’s administration faced 15 injunctions blocking his executive actions as of February, according to Harvard Law Review. That’s more than the total injunctions faced by former Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden during their entire terms—12 and 14, respectively. Talk about a legal roadblock!

Cameron predicts that the executive order will likely target federal funding for sanctuary jurisdictions that refuse to comply. "Inside of the United States, your zip code should be irrelevant when it comes to enforceable federal law," he said. "Cities and states that harbor illegal aliens from federal authorities or otherwise actively interfere with the enforcement of federal law do not deserve taxpayer money or support. Plain and simple." Translation: If you play the sanctuary card, don’t expect Uncle Sam to foot the bill.

As for the broader strategy, Cameron called executive orders "a good first step," pointing to the success Trump has had in addressing southern border crossings. "We didn’t need new laws for border crossings to plummet from the Biden-era highs. All we needed was a new president with the courage to do something," he said. A bold claim—but one that underscores the administration's reliance on executive actions to bypass legislative gridlock.

Overall, this looming executive order appears to be another chapter in Trump’s ongoing saga to tackle immigration policies his way. Whether this move will hold up in court or face a barrage of injunctions is anyone’s guess, but one thing’s certain: The legal fireworks are far from over.