U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi issued a memo on February 5 following her senate confirmation that halts federal funding to sanctuary cities. Sanctuary cities limit or define the extent to which a local or state government will share information with federal immigration law officers. Boulder was officially designated as a sanctuary city in 2017, following the inauguration of President Donald Trump for his first term in office. At that time, the city was receiving $8 million in federal funds but said they could function without the federal support.
The action comes as part of the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement with Border Czar Tom Homan leading the charge. Bondi’s memo specifically mentions statute 8 U.S.C. § 1373, which outlaws local jurisdiction policies that prevent communication between local government and federal immigration authorities.
Detainer requests are an important enforcement mechanism for ICE, which requests local officials to hold a non-citizen for up to 48 hours. Sanctuary cities don’t abide by these rules and don’t allow ICE agents to access jails to deport undocumented immigrants. Homan has said the priority for immigration enforcement is violent criminals, which is more easily enforced when local jurisdictions allow ICE to access jail inmates.
In November, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston warned that he would utilize the Denver Police Department to stop ICE officials from coming across the county line with “50,000 Denverites” in a “Tiananmen Square moment.” After President Trump’s inauguration, Mayor Johnston said the city will work with ICE to deport violent criminals. Johnston is set to appear March 5 at a Federal House Oversight Committee alongside Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, and New York City Mayor Eric Adams.
Chairman James Comer said that "sanctuary mayors owe the American people an explanation for city policies that jeopardize public safety and violate federal immigration law by releasing dangerous criminal illegal aliens back onto the streets. These reckless policies in Democrat-run cities and states across our nation have led to too many preventable tragedies."
Mayor Johnston hasn’t made any public comments regarding the latest order by AG Bondi or whether the city will comply with the order. Denver’s $4.4 billion 2025 budget includes $150 million in federal funding for a variety of purposes, including road construction and support for small businesses. The federal dollars account for 3.4 percent of the current year’s budget.
Boulder Mayor Aaron Brockett has not made a statement regarding the potential loss of federal dollars. The DOJ has filed a lawsuit against Chicago, Cook County, and the state of Illinois for interfering with immigration enforcement.
A lawsuit has been filed against the Trump administration for the executive order that cuts federal funding for jurisdictions that adhere to sanctuary city policies. The suit was filed by San Francisco, New Haven, Connecticut, Santa Clara County, California, King County, Washington, and Portland, Oregon.
The Longmont Leader reported about three Colorado House Representatives, including Rep Gabe Evans, challenging Governor Polis for “sanctuary state policies.”
