A new GOP bill targets cities defying Trump immigration policy by threatening to withhold federal funds for so-called 'anarchist jurisdictions.'

Senate Republicans Propose SAFE Cities Act

Senate Republicans are pushing forward with new legislation designed to target cities that refuse to comply with President Donald Trump’s immigration policies. The Stop Anarchists from Endangering (SAFE) Cities Act, spearheaded by Senator Tim Sheehy of Montana, would allow the federal government to identify and penalize ‘anarchist jurisdictions’ by cutting off their access to federal funding.

Under the proposed bill, Attorney General Pam Bondi would be responsible for identifying jurisdictions that fail to uphold federal immigration enforcement, subsequently publishing a list of cities at risk. Once listed, these jurisdictions could see their eligibility for federal grants dramatically restricted, as the Office of Management and Budget issues corresponding guidance to federal agencies. “It’s not too much for Americans to ask that their local governments put the safety of their people first,” Sheehy stated. He argued that too many local officials “allow violent criminals to wreak havoc on families, communities, and businesses with no consequence.”

The introduction of the SAFE Cities Act follows a series of anti-ICE protests in Los Angeles, where state and local leaders, including Governor Gavin Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass, have resisted Trump administration deportation operations. The administration has responded with a lawsuit against the city, accusing its officials of impeding the work of federal immigration authorities. The Senate bill complements a similar measure introduced in the House by Representative Tony Wied of Wisconsin. Wied thanked Sheehy for supporting the effort, insisting that “radical elected officials” must “either restore the rule of law in their communities or lose their federal funding.”

Codifying Executive Action into Law

The SAFE Cities Act would cement into law a previous Trump administration directive that sought to prevent federal tax dollars from supporting cities seen as lawless or hostile to federal authority. The directive, first implemented after widespread unrest in major U.S. cities, instructed the Department of Justice to identify jurisdictions “permitting violence and the destruction of property” and refusing to “undertake reasonable measures to counteract these criminal activities.”

Criteria for designation as an ‘anarchist jurisdiction’ include prohibiting law enforcement from restoring order, withdrawing police presence from areas lawfully within their responsibility, defunding the police, or declining federal law enforcement assistance. Any jurisdiction placed on the list would risk losing access to federal grants, putting significant pressure on local officials to comply with federal priorities.

The bill’s introduction marks the latest effort by Senate Republicans to assert federal authority over local governments viewed as obstacles to Trump administration priorities. As debate continues, cities designated as ‘anarchist jurisdictions’ may soon face tough choices regarding federal funding and policy compliance, potentially reshaping the relationship between local and federal government in the months ahead.