President Donald Trump has backed a bill that would require police departments in local jurisdictions to assist federal immigration agents in detaining undocumented immigrants, and has pledged to take action on the issue if he is elected.
The move has alarmed rights groups and Democrats, who say it would undermine local authority and the rule of law in America’s largest cities.
Trump has vowed to use his executive authority to protect the safety and security of law-abiding Americans, but he has been at odds with some of the nation’s most powerful law enforcement officials, who fear it would lead to more police violence and other problems.
Trump signed the sanctuary city and border security bill, which has drawn the support of sheriffs from New York to Los Angeles.
But it’s unclear whether it will receive support from the White House or other top law enforcement leaders.
A bipartisan group of lawmakers, including the Democratic Senators Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut and Joe Manchin of West Virginia, introduced the bill on Tuesday, and it was signed by the president.
“This bill will not just protect law enforcement, but it will empower them to make decisions that are right for their communities,” Manchin said.
“The sanctuary city bill has the backing of our entire criminal justice system, our courts, our police, and our communities, and we are proud to have signed it into law.”
The bill is a significant development for Manchin, who has championed the bill, as well as the legislation that was introduced by New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and California Attorney General Xavier Becerra.
Both bills would require law enforcement to have a federal warrant or court order to detain immigrants in sanctuary cities.
The legislation also includes language that would prohibit police departments from sharing information with immigration officials about their officers’ immigration status.
Trump’s immigration policies have been a focus of his administration since he took office.
Trump announced on Jan. 30 that the Department of Homeland Security would be shutting down its 287(g) program, which provides local law enforcement with money to help with enforcement efforts in immigration cases.
Critics of the 287(d) program have argued that it allows undocumented immigrants to enter the country without being vetted, and that it is an important tool to crack down on illegal immigration.
The 287(e) program provides money to local law officers for providing “citizen response teams” that conduct field work to verify the immigration status of undocumented immigrants who are detained in local jails.
Trump also announced that he would order the department to stop using the 287g program and to review its use.
