President Trump reiterated his commitment to fighting sanctuary cities on Tuesday, saying at a roundtable with law enforcement and state representatives that "we're going to take care of the problem."
Why it matters: This follows an escalating struggle between the Trump administration and the state of California, as well as a failed attempt by conservatives to cut funding for sanctuary cities. Trump said that California has "put innocent Americans at the mercy of hardened criminals, hardened murderers."
- Trump praised Attorney General Jeff Sessions, telling him: "The level of strength from the Justice Department on this issue...has been fantastic."
- Sessions called sanctuary cities "radical" policies: "They are irrational, they make no sense."
- Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said that the idea of sanctuary cities "has been contorted, it has been perverted, and now all we have is a sanctuary for criminals."
- Sen. Tom Cotton said: "They are not sanctuary cities, they are outlaw cities."
- Rep. Martha McSally said "if these dangerous policies continue out California, we might need to build a wall between California and Arizona as well."
