"Further, the order does not purport to enjoin the department's independent legal authority to enforce the requirements of federal law applicable to communities that violate federal immigration law or federal grant conditions," spokesman Ian Prior said. The Trump administration has made threats to punish sanctuary jurisdictions a key piece of Trump's immigration agenda. Since the order was issued three months ago, the government has said that a definition of sanctuary jurisdictions would be forthcoming. Law enforcement chiefs and mayors alike questioned the administration's threat to remove even law enforcement funding from cities as part of a stated goal to improve public safety. Department of Homeland Security spokesman David Lapan told reporters in a separate briefing Tuesday held before the ruling, the agency had not yet settled on a definition of sanctuary jurisdictions.

Source: CNN April 25, 2017 20:36 UTC