President Donald Trump praised the mayor of the most populous county in Florida Thursday after he backed down from his “sanctuary” county policy.
The decision from Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez, a Republican, came a day after President Trump signed an executive order authorizing the federal government to strip funding from jurisdictions which refuse to comply with federal immigration detainer. Immigration detainers require local jails to hold an immigrant long enough for Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers to pick them up.
Miami-Dade County’s budget shows that it is relying on over $350 million in federal funds in 2017 and Mayor Gimenez said, “I want to make sure we don’t put in jeopardy the millions of funds we get from the federal government.”
After Gimenez’s decision, President Trump shared a Miami Herald story on Twitter and wrote, “Miami-Dade Mayor drops sanctuary policy. Right decision. Strong!” Gimenez’s response to the executive order is in contrast to that of many mayors.
