Trump orders end to federal aid for illegal immigrants and 'sanctuary policies'

President Donald Trump signed an executive order Wednesday to "prevent taxpayer resources from acting as a magnet and fueling illegal immigration." To that end, he directed federal agency heads to identify and guarantee that "that no taxpayer-funded benefits go to unqualified aliens."

The order also targets sanctuary states, cities, and counties—those that refuse to cooperate, to varying degrees, with federal immigration authorities. Specifically, Trump demanded a review and cutoff of all federal funding that "supports" so-called "sanctuary policies."

The GOP has stepped up its attacks on sanctuary locations since Trump's inauguration. Not just on the media front, but also through judicial and legislative efforts in Congress.

The presidential order also delivers a message to Elon Musk: his Department of Government Efficiency(DOGE), tasked with promoting state budget cuts, must scrutinize "all other sources of federal funding" that benefit illegal immigrants.

The order comes shortly after the DOGE denounced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) had sent $59 million to house undocumented immigrants in New York hotels. Acting FEMA Administrator Cameron Hamilton, after publicly thanking the Musk-led office, announced that the payments were suspended. The Department of Homeland Security indicated hours later that the four individuals responsible had been fired.

That episode, which unfolded live on X and media, serves as an example of how the executors of the presidential order will coordinate their actions, according to the order: after identifying improper expenditures, the DOGE must recommend to federal agencies or departments, which, then, will have to "refer any improper receipt or use" to the departments of Justice or Homeland Security "for appropriate action."