Davos: US President Donald Trump declared on Wednesday that Washington will ‘immediately’ cease all federal funding to sanctuary cities. “Starting immediately, there will be no more payments to sanctuary cities, because they are really just sanctuaries for criminals,” Trump announced during his address at the World Economic Forum held in Davos, Switzerland. This marks a significant policy shift from his previous statement on Truth Social, where he had set a February 1 deadline for states and cities to comply.

According to Anadolu Agency, Trump accused sanctuary jurisdictions of offering protection to individuals involved in serious crimes such as murder and drug dealing, as well as those he described as “mentally insane.” The President further elaborated on the issue of financial misconduct, highlighting a case in Minnesota involving more than $19 billion in fraud, which he attributed to “Somalian bandits.” Trump suggested that eliminating even half of such fraud nationwide could lead to a balanced budget without needing to address economic growth directly.

Sanctuary cities are known for their policies that limit local law enforcement’s cooperation with federal immigration authorities. The US Justice Department has identified 11 states, including California, Illinois, Minnesota, and New York, along with the District of Columbia, as sanctuary jurisdictions. These areas are now facing the immediate termination of federal financial support as part of Trump’s latest directive.