Albuquerque could lose millions in federal aid because of sanctuary city status

As far as the federal government is concerned, Albuquerque made the naughty list.

The U.S. Department of Justice on Tuesday deemed New Mexico’s most populous city a sanctuary jurisdiction — one of 18 cities across the country with “policies, laws, or regulations that impede enforcement of federal immigration laws.”

The DOJ, in a release, said the listed cities were at risk of losing millions in federal funding, among other possible consequences.

“Sanctuary policies impede law enforcement and put American citizens at risk by design,” said Attorney General Pam Bondi in a statement. “The Department of Justice will continue bringing litigation against sanctuary jurisdictions and work closely with the Department of Homeland Security to eradicate these harmful policies around the country.”

In April, President Donald Trump signed an executive order titled “Protecting American Communities From Criminal Aliens” that directed the DOJ to publish a list of cities and states that obstruct the enforcement of federal immigration laws.

Each jurisdiction was notified by the DOJ of their status, and the DOJ will pursue enforcement measures and legal ramifications to “bring jurisdictions into compliance,” according to the executive order. The order tells federal agencies to identify funds, grants, and contracts to suspend or end in those jurisdictions.

Cracking down on illegal immigration was one of the main pillars of Trump’s campaign, and this is only the latest move to that end.

Trump’s administration has already budgeted billions of dollars in the One Big Beautiful Bill to secure the border, increased Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids in cities across America — including in Los Angeles where protests led to a temporary military occupation of the city — and made high-profile deportations, sometimes to countries to which the deportee is not native.

Many states, cities and municipalities — like Albuquerque — have reacted negatively to the moves, trying to increase protections for undocumented people in their jurisdictions.

Albuquerque is the only city in the state listed as a sanctuary city, and New Mexico was not listed as a sanctuary state. The DOJ said the list will be updated regularly, and jurisdictions have the ability to get themselves on or off the list at any point in time.

“The federal government will assist any jurisdiction that desires to be taken off this list to identify and eliminate their sanctuary policies, so they no longer stand in opposition to federal immigration enforcement,” according to a statement sent by Natalie Baldassarre, spokeswoman for the DOJ.

The DOJ list comes after the U.S. Department of Homeland Security published a list of sanctuary jurisdictions on May 30 that included 23 out of 33 counties in New Mexico. DHS withdrew the list shortly after, but Albuquerque reappeared on the DOJ list released this week.

A sanctuary jurisdiction is defined as a place that has publicly declared itself as a sanctuary area, restricts sharing information with federal authorities, does not cooperate with federal immigration enforcement, or limits ICE detainers, among other characteristics, according to the DOJ website.

Albuquerque reaffirmed itself as an “immigrant-friendly city” through an executive order signed by Mayor Tim Keller in late July to protect immigrant rights amid increasing ICE raids throughout the state.

“Albuquerque is a welcoming city, and where crime is now actually going down in every category this year,” Keller said in a statement to the Journal.

“So we are proving that we are safer and stronger when residents trust law enforcement enough to report crimes, send their kids to school, and seek services without fear,” he said. “Our recent executive order supports both our immigrant community, while ensuring APD can focus on public safety, not federal immigration enforcement.”

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said this was another way for the Trump administration to overstep its authority.

“The Trump administration’s designation of Albuquerque as a sanctuary city invites the same kind of federal overreach we’ve seen play out disastrously in cities like Los Angeles,” Michael Coleman, spokesperson for the governor, said in an email. “Gov. Lujan Grisham fundamentally opposes this administration’s approach to indiscriminate detention and deportation.

“The question now is how the City of Albuquerque plans to manage this situation. Those questions should be directed to the mayor’s office. The Lujan Grisham administration will continue fighting unconstitutional federal overreach in court. But right now, what Albuquerque needs most is for APD to focus on real crime in real neighborhoods across the city — not to get pulled into immigration enforcement battles that distract from public safety.”

Some leaders struck a different tone.

City Councilor Renee Grout, who represents the far Southeast Heights and foothills, said that while she is pleased the city of Albuquerque welcomes people from around the world, the city won’t “be a sanctuary for criminals.”

“It’s unfortunate that the mayor is willing to forfeit federal funding for housing and social services to engage in this political game,” Grout said. “Public safety should come first, and it should involve every tool at our disposal, including welcoming help from federal law enforcement.”

Councilors Dan Lewis and Dan Champine joined Grout in releasing a joint statement that pledged to “eliminate criminal sanctuary provisions.”

“If a resolution comes before the Council to codify orders that interfere with federal law enforcement’s pursuit of criminals, we will introduce an amendment requiring that federal authorities be given access to the Prisoner Booking Center — the location all criminals are taken when arrested,” they said in the statement.