Sanctuary Cities/Counties Impacting Budgets?
***UPDATE*** The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) removed the list of sanctuary jurisdictions (referenced in the first paragraph below) from its web site. Subsequently, we removed the link from that first paragraph, so you are not directed to a ‘Page Not Found’ message. However, the original statement about the list can be found here.
On May 29, 2025 in compliance with Presidential Executive Order “Protecting American Communities from Criminal Aliens” the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released a list of sanctuary jurisdictions. Included on that list are:
Chester County
Delaware County
Montgomery County
Philadelphia
Each jurisdiction will be given formal notice regarding the policies that violate federal statutes and are urged to change policies to come into compliance with the law. The consequence for remaining a sanctuary jurisdiction, according to the Executive Order, is the potential suspension of federal grants and termination of federal contracts. Potential legal action may also be taken against these jurisdictions if they do not come into compliance.
BUDGET IMPACT
As referenced in our articles for Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery Counties as well as Philadelphia, large percentages of local budgets are derived from federal and state grants. The source of many of the state grant allocations is actually federal money. As a reminder, here are the federal and state grant numbers for each jurisdiction:
- Chester County – $279.3 million or 44% of operating budget
- Delaware County – $422 million or 47% of the total budget
- Montgomery County – $206 million or 35% of the general fund budget
- Philadelphia – budget not yet approved; estimated at almost $3 billion in grants
If the counties and Philadelphia do not come into compliance with federal statutes, then we’ll see grant money dry up. That will impact general operations for all the jurisdictions, including many community services. Will administrations be willing to cut services or even personnel in this event? Or will taxpayers be left to shoulder the burden with increased taxes, fees, or new county debt?
WHY NOT COMPLY?
Chester and Montgomery Counties
According to sources in Chester and Montgomery Counties, there is some confusion as to why the counties are on the sanctuary list. As they await formal notice from DHS as to the infractions, they explained that the counties do cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Whenever illegal aliens are imprisoned due to violent crimes, the counties notify ICE about prison release dates so agents can take the criminals into custody. However, for less serious offenses, such as a DUI, counties can only detain the illegal immigrant for 48 hours in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. This limitation is a result of a 2014 Third Circuit Court of Appeals ruling in GALARZA V. SZALCZYK. Often, ICE agents are not able to get to the prison in time to pick up these low priority targets within that timeframe. This 48-hour hold only applies to the region of the Third Circuit, whereas other states can detain the prisoners until ICE arrives. Chester and Montgomery Counties often believe their hands are tied in how they comply with federal statutes.
In order to resolve the unequal treatment between states, DHS and the Attorney General may need to challenge the Third Circuit Galarza ruling.
Delaware County
Delaware County’s response to being listed as a sanctuary county is very different than the other collar counties. Delco seems defiant! According to the Delaware County Daily Times, the Delaware County Council chair, Dr. Monica Taylor stated, “We are not an arm of the federal or state government and will not be bullied or harassed away from our core mission of service directly to our residents.” Additionally, District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer directed his staff to not question the legal status of any victim or witness. If the District Attorney’s Office does discover that a victim or witness is an illegal resident, then the office will not report them to ICE.
Given the extreme reliance the county has on grant money to operate and the strident tone of county leadership, the federal government may start pulling funding. Delaware County claims it wants to serve every resident, legal status not withstanding. Is that what the taxpayers and voters want? When federal funding dries up and programs need to be cut, whose fault will that be? Will the County Council change policies? Will citizen residents become the priority?
Philadelphia
Philadelphia is indeed a sanctuary city. Anyone who works or travels into the city knows that. However, Mayor Charelle Parker has taken the avoidance tactic regarding Philadelphia’s sanctuary policies. She and other council members say that Philadelphia is a “welcoming” and “inclusive” city, avoiding the term sanctuary at all costs. During her tenure, Mayor Parker has not reversed former Mayor Jim Kenney’s 2016 executive order, which prohibits the city from honoring ICE detainer requests without a warrant.
With the city already in financial peril, the $2 billion in direct federal grant/project funding is a huge problem for city officials who want to play word games with the Trump Administration. Mayor Parker will most likely file court challenges to any federal grant cuts that will undoubtedly be used as leverage by the federal government. But why? The city is impoverished and hasn’t been managed well in decades. As with Delaware County, who is it that these elected officials serve or is it the taxpayers who serve the will of the leaders?
Bottom line…
More information regarding exact infractions will be forthcoming from DHS to these jurisdictions. Will the local leaders use sound judgement to benefit their municipalities as a whole? Or will they choose to die on sanctuary hill dragging residents and taxpayers with them? We’ll soon find out.
As the Constitutional Convention ended in 1787, Benjamin Franklin was asked if the delegates produced a monarchy or a republic. Franklin replied, “a republic, if you can keep it.”
We are trying to keep this republic that we love and hold our representatives accountable to the people. Join us in that mission and share this Update with your contacts!
