What Jeff Sessions’ latest sanctuary cities funding threat could mean for Philly – Billy Penn

Dan Levy/Billy Penn

A memo from the beleaguered Attorney General targets a grant thats meant more than $5 million to the city.

Jul 26 2017 11:00 am

Philadelphia officials are reviewing new federal guidelines that could strip the city of some funding because of its sanctuary city policy.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions issued a memo Tuesday detailing new regulations for cities that apply for the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Programs, a Department of Justice program that provides funding to law enforcement agencies across the country to support a broad range of needs to prevent and control crime.

Over the last three years, the City of Philadelphia has received $5.1 million as part of the grant program, with $1.67 million of that coming in FY 16. Its unclear how much the city will request for FY17, if it requests funding at all.

Saying so-called sanctuary policies make all of us less safe, Sessions memo details new regulations for FY 17 recipients of the grant:

Those regulations, specifically the latter, appears to be at odds with the citys current sanctuary city policy (administration officials prefer the title Fourth Amendment City). Under current policy, law enforcement in the city of Philadelphia will not detain undocumented immigrants at the request of federal immigration officials unless the person is a convicted violent criminal or federal officials produce a criminal warrant.

City spokeswoman Lauren Hitt said Wednesday morning that the administration just saw the new conditions for the first time last night and is still reviewing with our outside legal counsel exactly what the new conditions entail and what our options are.

In March 2016 under the Obama administration, Department of Justice officials notified recipients of the grant including the city of Philadelphia that in order to keep the grant, jurisdictions would need to comply with an existing federal statutethat prohibits putting restrictions on communication between local agencies and federal immigration officials. City officials contend their policy does comply with federal law.

President Donald Trump campaigned on stripping away federal funding from sanctuary cities, though Mayor Jim Kenneyhas remained resolute when it comes to Philadelphias status.

First of all, weve changed the name from sanctuary city to the Fourth Amendment city,Kenney toldThe Inquirer after Trumps win in November.We respect and live up to the Fourth Amendment, which means you cant be held against your will without a warrant from the court signed by a judge. So, yeah, we will continue to be a Fourth Amendment city abiding by the Constitution.

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What Jeff Sessions' latest sanctuary cities funding threat could mean for Philly - Billy Penn