AG Jeff Sessions says jurisdictions must comply with federal laws in order to get DOJ grants

Attorney General Jeff Sessions said states and local jurisdictions pursuing Justice Department grants will need to prove compliance with federal laws in order to receive funds.

Sessions specifically said that as condition for receiving Justice Department grants, jurisdictions will be required to certify compliance with 8 U.S. Code Section 1373 – which says federal, state or local officials may not restrict the exchange with federal immigration officers of information regarding the citizenship or immigration status of any individual.

His statements take aim at so-called "sanctuary cities," jurisdictions that limit their assistance to immigration authorities and which President Donald Trump has promised to defund if they don't cooperate.

Sessions' March 27 remarks at a White House press briefing indicated this wasn't necessarily a new mandate created by the Trump administration.

"This policy is entirely consistent with the Department of Justice's Office of Justice Programs guidance that was issued just last summer under the previous administration … It also made clear that failure to remedy violations could result in withholding grants, termination of grants, and disbarment or ineligibility for future grants," Sessions said.

During this fiscal year, the Office of Justice Programs and Community Oriented Policing Services expects to award more than $4.1 billion in grants, according to Sessions.

The Justice Department, led by Sessions, will "take all lawful steps to claw back any funds" given to jurisdictions which "willfully" violate Section 1373, he said.

Asked by a reporter during the briefing if he was taking any additional steps beyond what the Obama administration imposed, Sessions said grants in the future could have additional requirements.

While the Justice Department has voiced intent to block grants to localities not cooperating with federal immigration authorities, other executive departments also issue grants. We continue to rate Trump's promise to cancel all funding of sanctuary cities as In the Works.