How Sanctuary Cities Are Fighting Trump, Again: QuickTake

During his first term, President Donald Trump’s efforts to leverage the power of the federal government against so-called sanctuary cities were largely unsuccessful, and sanctuary policies across the country frustrated his deportation agenda.

The first months of his second term have been marked by renewed efforts to strong-arm cities that have policies protecting immigrants from arrest and deportation. Trump has sued jurisdictions such as Chicago and New York, threatened to cut off funding for transportation projects, and taken steps to implement his mass deportation plan.

Michelle Wu, mayor of Boston, during a House Oversight and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing on March 5, 2025.

Photographer: Al Drago/Bloomberg

On March 5, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson ...