President Donald Trump on Saturday re-stated his belief that sanctuary cities should take in migrants and asylum seekers who are released from government custody. But it was not clear whether he would actually order the Department of Homeland Security to begin transporting people in its custody to sanctuary cities, or whether the tweets were meant as political attacks alone.
When The Washington Post first reported Thursday on early, behind-the-scenes discussions among Trump administration officials of busing undocumented migrants to sanctuary cities — meaning, generally, cities that do not share jail or arrest data with federal immigration agents — the White House told the paper the “suggestion” of doing so had been “floated and rejected.”
A day later, though, Trump revived the idea on Twitter. On Saturday night, he did so again.
….So interesting to see the Mayor of Oakland and other Sanctuary Cities NOT WANT our currently “detained immigrants” after release due to the ridiculous court ordered 20 day rule. If they don’t want to serve our Nation by taking care of them, why should other cities & towns?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 14, 2019
Democrats must change the Immigration Laws FAST. If not, Sanctuary Cities must immediately ACT to take care of the Illegal Immigrants – and this includes Gang Members, Drug Dealers, Human Traffickers, and Criminals of all shapes, sizes and kinds. CHANGE THE LAWS NOW!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 14, 2019
Just out: The USA has the absolute legal right to have apprehended illegal immigrants transferred to Sanctuary Cities. We hereby demand that they be taken care of at the highest level, especially by the State of California, which is well known or its poor management & high taxes!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 14, 2019
Trump also accused The New York Times (falsely, per the Times’ Maggie Haberman) of not contacting the White House for comment on a story about immigration.
The New York Times Sanctuary Cities/Immigration story today was knowingly wrong on almost every fact. They never call to check for truth. Their sources often don’t even exist, a fraud. They will lie & cheat anyway possible to make me look bad. In 6 years they will be gone……..
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 13, 2019
Late Friday, Trump denied reports from the Times and CNN that he dangled a pardon before then-Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Kevin McAleenan, should McAleenan be found to have broken the law for closing the border, as Trump reportedly told him to do. Trump denied the story again Saturday:
I never offered Pardons to Homeland Security Officials, never ordered anyone to close our Southern Border (although I have the absolute right to do so, and may if Mexico does not apprehend the illegals coming to our Border), and am not “frustrated.” It is all Fake & Corrupt News!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 13, 2019
Part of the Times story noted: “Last year, Trump administration officials had floated the idea of transporting migrants to sanctuary cities.”
The Times’ Haberman noted that Trump’s repeated confirmation of that story clashed with his claims about the paper.
Moments ago, POTUS claimed NYT reporting that he wants to put undocumented immigrants in sanctuary cities was false. But > https://t.co/EseNevxyaW
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) April 14, 2019
