WASHINGTON _ White House press secretary Sean Spicer Friday renewed the Trump administration's warning that sanctuary cities such as Chicago could lose millions of dollars in federal law-enforcement grants, saying that many people who are here illegally are committing crimes and are gang members.
Spicer also implied that officials in sanctuary cities have no business expecting more money for law enforcement, since those cities are "allowing people to come into the country who are breaking the law, who in many cases are committing crimes."
Spicer made the comments during the daily press briefing at the White House.
President Donald Trump finds it "unacceptable" that some communities "have prioritized a political agenda over the safety of their people by flouting our nation's immigrations law, becoming so-called sanctuary cities," Spicer said. "The failure to follow federal law can have tragic consequences for all of our citizens in all of our country."
Spicer called it "particularly concerning" in places such as Chicago and Philadelphia hit by increased violence.
"Immigrants, both legal and illegal, are not safe when criminals who have committed egregious acts are free to roam the streets," he said.
Spicer, asked whether Trump would cut off the money even though it would hamper Chicago police in their fight against street violence, said, "I think it would be interesting to want to send more money to a city that is allowing people to come into the country who are breaking the law, who in many cases are committing crimes, (members) of gangs.
"You can't be a sanctuary city and at the same time ... express concern about law enforcement or ask for more money, when probably a number of the funds that you're using in the first place are going to law enforcement to handle the situation that you've created for yourself."
U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions said Monday that the Justice Department planned to award $4.1 billion in grants this year through its Office of Justice Programs and the Community Oriented Policing Services program, but that sanctuary cities risk having the money taken away or denied.
A Justice Department spokesman, asked Friday how much the Chicago Police Department received in such funding, did not respond.
