Trump Backs Sanctuary City Cuts, Touts 'Affordable' Immigration Enforcement

President claims ending sanctuary policies would reduce crime, despite lack of evidence

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

President Donald Trump has voiced support for Senator Lindsey Graham's effort to end sanctuary city policies, arguing that the move would be the 'most affordable' way to enforce immigration laws and reduce crime rates. Trump criticized Democratic leaders for protecting criminals in sanctuary cities and emphasized his administration's efforts to secure the border, claiming that illegal crossings and drug flow have decreased significantly under his watch.

Why it matters

Trump's push to defund sanctuary cities is part of his broader crackdown on illegal immigration, which has been a key priority for his administration. The president's claims about the impact of sanctuary policies on crime rates are not supported by research, but the issue remains politically divisive. This story highlights the ongoing tensions between the federal government and state/local authorities over immigration enforcement.

The details

In an interview with Fox Business host Larry Kudlow, Trump backed Senator Lindsey Graham's effort to end sanctuary city policies, which he described as 'sanctuary for criminals.' Trump argued that states and cities could 'hand those people over to us' and that 'crime would go down' if sanctuary policies were eliminated. The president also touted his administration's efforts to secure the border, claiming that illegal crossings and drug flow have decreased significantly under his watch.

  • Trump discussed his administration's immigration enforcement efforts in a recent interview with Larry Kudlow that aired on February 10, 2026.

The players

Donald Trump

The 46th President of the United States, who has made immigration enforcement a key priority of his administration.

Lindsey Graham

A Republican Senator who has pushed for legislation to end sanctuary city policies.

Larry Kudlow

A Fox Business host who interviewed President Trump about his administration's immigration enforcement efforts.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Sanctuary cities are only good for people. It's, it's. Story for criminals. Okay, they are protecting criminals. Those States could hand those people over to us. A crime would go down. We'd get them out of the country. They can't do what we can do. We can get them out of the country. They can't do it.”

— Donald Trump, President of the United States (Fox Business)

The takeaway

While the president's claims about the impact of sanctuary city policies on crime rates are not supported by evidence, his push to defund these jurisdictions is part of a broader crackdown on illegal immigration that remains a key priority for his administration. This story highlights the ongoing tensions between federal and state/local authorities over immigration enforcement.