The Trump Administration has issued many Executive Orders and agency memoranda attacking immigrants and particularly those who defend them. These policies target sanctuary jurisdictions for defunding, prosecuting elected officials, and suing over local policies.
Additional memos expand immigration enforcement powers to other branches of DHS and DOJ, prioritize federal criminal prosecutions related to immigration, by demanding a published list of sanctuary jurisdictions, imposing coercive funding conditions of cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, threatening criminal and civil action, and enlisting federal and local law enforcement agencies in their efforts to carry out federal immigration enforcement.
Additionally, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has delegated their immigration enforcement powers to other federal agencies that have diverted their vast resources away from important investigative work to immigration enforcement.
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Civil Division Enforcement Priorities
Department of Justice (DOJ) memorandum, Civil Division Enforcement Priorities, dated June 11, 2025.
This memo instructs the civil division to identify and take legal action against sanctuary jurisdictions.
This memo largely repeats the same threats that the two earlier memos relied on to justify the reallocation of resources and threats to federal grants.
Delegation to Director, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), to Order Expedited Removal and Enforce Immigration Laws
Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Delegation to Director, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), to Order Expedited Removal and Enforce Immigration Laws, dated May 2, 2025.
DHS delegated to USCIS the authority to order expedited removal, issue and execute ICE detainers, detain and release noncitizens on bond, remove noncitizens from the country, and investigate alleged civil and criminal violations of immigration laws.
To implement this delegation of authority, DHS issued a final rule that went into effect October 6, 2025. The same day that the final rule was published, USCIS announced that they will be hiring “special agents” to implement this new delegation.
DOJ Immigration Officer Authorization
Department of Homeland Security (DHS), memorandum, DOJ Immigration Officer Authorization, dated January 22, 2025.
In this memo, DHS delegates their immigration enforcement powers to the U.S. Marshals Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Federal Bureau of Prisons, and any other employee of the Department of Justice (DOJ)
Ending Political Violence Against ICE
Department of Justice (DOJ) memorandum, Ending Political Violence Against ICE, dated September 29, 2025.
The memo instructs several law enforcement divisions of the DOJ to “defend ICE facilities” and for DOJ law enforcement grants to provide funding to defend ICE facilities.
The memo also states that “all state and local law enforcement officers protecting ICE facilities and personnel as hereby added to a temporary ICE Protection Task Force alongside each of the Department’s law enforcement components.” Note that this task force could be in violation of state or local laws depending on the jurisdiction.
Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Open Borders
February 19, 2025, Executive Order 14218
Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Open Borders: This order instructs the executive departments or agencies to ensure that federal funding does not go to state and localities with sanctuary policies.
Interim Policy Changes Regarding Charging, Sentencing, And Immigration Enforcement
Department of Justice (DOJ), memorandum, Interim Policy Changes Regarding Charging, Sentencing, And Immigration Enforcement, dated January 21, 2025.
This memo directs the DOJ to use all of its law enforcement components including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for immigration-related related arrests and prosecutions.
The memo also threatens jurisdictions with sanctuary policies with a variety of legal attacks and also incorrectly states that state and local elected officials must comply with federal immigration enforcement initiatives. The US Supreme Court and other federal courts have already ruled that is untrue. For more information, see the National Immigration Project, Setting the Record Straight About Sanctuary Policies (Jan. 22, 2025).
Lastly, the memo also announces the creation of a special working group called “sanctuary cities enforcement working group.”
Interim Policy Changes Regarding Charging, Sentencing, And Immigration Enforcement
Department of Justice (DOJ), memorandum, Interim Policy Changes Regarding Charging, Sentencing, And Immigration Enforcement, dated January 21, 2025.
This memo directs the DOJ to use all of its law enforcement components including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for immigration-related related arrests and prosecutions.
The memo also threatens jurisdictions with sanctuary policies with a variety of legal attacks and also incorrectly states that state and local elected officials must comply with federal immigration enforcement initiatives. The US Supreme Court and other federal courts have already ruled that is untrue. For more information, see the National Immigration Project, Setting the Record Straight About Sanctuary Policies (Jan. 22, 2025).
Lastly, the memo also announces the creation of a special working group called “sanctuary cities enforcement working group.”
Protecting American Communities from Criminal Aliens
April 28, 2025, Executive Order 14287
Protecting American Communities from Criminal Aliens: This order states (falsely) that jurisdictions with sanctuary policies are supporting “lawless insurrection.” This order instructs the Attorney General and the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to publish a list of sanctuary jurisdictions.
DHS did publish this list on May 29, 2025 and they pulled it down off the website 3 days later due to public criticism.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) published a list on August 5, 2025 and stated that jurisdictions can take steps to be taken off the list. Many jurisdictions have rejected these threats and publicly refused to change their policies in response to the threats from the DOJ.
Note that this order basically repackages the same funding threats as the previous executive orders. A federal judge noted that after issuing a block against parts of the previous executive orders, the administration tried to issue this new order to circumvent the federal court’s order. See City and County of San Francisco v. Donald J. Trump.
Protecting the American People Against Invasion
January 20, 2025, Executive Order 14159
Protecting the American People Against Invasion: This order states that the federal government, specifically the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) make sure that jurisdictions with sanctuary policies do not receive federal funds and take criminal or civil actions against these jurisdictions.
Sanctuary Jurisdiction Directives
Department of Justice (DOJ) memorandum, Sanctuary Jurisdiction Directives, dated February 5, 2025.
This memo threatens sanctuary jurisdictions by restricting access to federal grants administered by the DOJ. The memo goes after federal grants to jurisdictions that either support or provide services to immigrants.
This memo also threatens sanctuary jurisdictions and mandates investigations for “misconduct” in places where state and local officials refuse to participate in immigration enforcement. This has no sound legal foundation and the federal government cannot make a finding of misconduct simply because they do not approve a local policy.