President Donald Trump signed this week an executive order that reactivates his offensive against the so-called "sanctuary cities", in a new attempt to condition access to federal funds to the level of cooperation that local governments provide to immigration authorities. One of the first to be affected would be Philadelphia, a city with a long tradition of protecting immigrant communities.

The measure orders the Department of Homeland Security and the Attorney General to publish within the next 30 days an "official list" of jurisdictions that, according to the White House, obstruct the enforcement of federal immigration laws. These localities could face budgetary sanctions and legal action, opening a scenario of institutional tension with profound economic and political consequences.

"This order is focused on protecting the American people from criminal illegal migrants," said Trump spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt. According to the official, the president's actions have already achieved a 95% reduction in border crossings since March 2024, when Joe Biden was still in the White House. "Trump has restored the rule of law," she said.

Philadelphia: a new chapter in a long story

Philadelphia - which in the last fiscal year received nearly $2.2 billion from the federal government, nearly one-fifth of its total budget - has been a recurring target of such disputes. In 2018, a federal judge blocked a similar attempt to cut funds, finding that the executive cannot impose new conditions on grants without congressional approval.

The city was one of the first to institutionalize modern sanctuary policies since 2009. Although there have been setbacks and advances depending on the mayor in office, the current local government maintains its commitment to not actively collaborate with ICE in the persecution of migrants because of their legal status.

Incumbent Mayor Cherelle Parker reaffirmed that the 2016 executive order protecting immigrants remains in place. "Nothing will stand in the way of my commitment to make Philadelphia a safer, cleaner city with economic opportunity for all," she declared.

However, organizations such as Juntos believe the official stance has been ambiguous and are calling for more forcefulness. "We want the mayor to publicly state that she will defend sanctuary and oppose Trump's operations," said Erika Guadalupe Núñez, executive director of the collective.

Legal tensions resurface

The legal backdrop to this crackdown remains the same as in 2017. Jennifer Lee, a law professor at Temple University, stresses that the Tenth Amendment prohibits the federal government from coercing states and cities to implement immigration policies. "They can't just cut off funds because they don't like what cities are doing," she noted.

Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner also spoke out strongly, "My job is to defend the Constitution. If Trump disagrees, let him try it and see what happens."

In parallel, Congress - under Republican control - is discussing a legislative package that would tighten immigration control and impose new fees on asylum seekers. Sanctuary cities, which refuse to cooperate with deportations without warrants, are now the main target of this strategy.

What does it mean to be a sanctuary city?

Sanctuary cities, such as Philadelphia, limit their local agencies' cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This includes refusing to hold people without warrants or share immigration data that could lead to deportations.

While detractors - like Trump - argue that these policies protect criminals, human rights advocates and academics highlight that they actually promote safety by fostering trust between immigrant communities and local authorities.

"Philadelphia has never been a sanctuary for criminals," Judge Michael Baylson wrote in his landmark 2018 ruling. "It is a city that respects the Constitution."

The debate is not new, but Trump's return to the White House has reignited the conflict. The official list to be released by the federal government could serve as a new lobbying tool. For Philadelphia, it represents another chapter in a battle that defines not only its local governance model, but its identity as a welcoming and diverse city.

With information from AFP