Sanctuary cities should not have the right to defy the law, former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg told MSNBC's "Morning Joe" on Tuesday.
When Bloomberg was asked for his view about cities that refuse to cooperate with federal officials in deporting illegal immigrants, Bloomberg said "You cannot have everybody deciding which laws they should obey. The law is the law."
The former mayor emphasized that "You should obey the law and if you don't like the law, get your legislative body to change the law. But society breaks down if we can all decide what's right and what's wrong. Can't do that. We have a system of laws. Have to live with it."
The Trump administration last week sent nine so-called sanctuary cities letters demanding they help enforce federal immigration law or risk losing federal grants, The Hill reported.
"Failure to comply with this condition could result in the withholding of grant funds, suspension or termination of the grant, ineligibility for future [Office of Justice] grants or subgrants, or other action, as appropriate," acting Assistant Attorney General Alan Harten wrote in letters to local officials.
The localities have said they will not comply with the order.
The letter came a month after Attorney General Jeff Sessions vowed that his department would punish sanctuary cities that do not cooperate with the federal government to deport illegal immigrants who come into contact with local law enforcement, Politico reported.
© 2024 Newsmax. All rights reserved.