Declaring that your city, county or state is a sanctuary from the enforcement of federal immigration laws could be detrimental to your financial health.
A report from OpenTheBooks.com finds that as much as $27 billion in federal aid could be endangered by a local unit of government by refusing to comply with federal immigration law.
According to the report:
The City of Chicago, IL received the second highest amount of federal funding on a per capita basis: $1,942 per person; $7,768 per family of four; or $5.3 billion total.
Obviously not even a President Trump could or would withhold all that, even by executive action. But even withholding a portion of that could affect vital services. For example:
$4.23 billion in federal funding of the 106 sanctuary cities owed via the ‘direct payment’ type. These payments funded municipal services such as housing, educa on, community development, and schools.
$21.5 billion in federal funding of the 106 sanctuary ci es owed via the ‘grant’ payment mechanism. These payments funded local police and re departments, schools, housing, and city services.
In the President Donald Trump-era, there could be a high-cost to running a sanctuary city...Under Trump’s order, mayors defending their sanctuary city status are essentially imposing a defiance tax on local residents. On average, this tax amounts to $500 per man, woman and child. Major cities like Washington, D.C., New York and Chicago have the most to lose, and nearly $27 billion is at stake across the country.
Makes no difference to Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who
said:
To all those who are, after Tuesday's election, very nervous and filled with anxiety ... you are safe in Chicago, you are secure in Chicago and you are supported in Chicago. Chicago has in the past been a sanctuary city. ... It always will be a sanctuary city.
As if Chicago can afford to spit in the eye of its benefactor.