ICE Gets $350M to Arrest People in Sanctuary Cities
President Trump signed a new law on June 10, 2026, giving ICE $350 million to arrest more people in cities that refuse to cooperate with federal immigration agents. If you live in a so-called sanctuary city, you may think you are safer from deportation. This new funding changes that picture.
What the Secure America Act Does
President Trump signed the Secure America Act into law on June 10, 2026. The law includes $350 million in new funding for ICE — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The money was pushed by Missouri Senator Eric Schmitt. Its main goal: help ICE arrest more undocumented immigrants in sanctuary jurisdictions — cities, counties, or states that do not share information with ICE or honor ICE detainers (official requests to hold someone in local jail until ICE can pick them up).
Acting ICE Director David J. Venturella said the funding will help ICE "monitor releases and arrest removable criminal aliens" when local governments refuse to cooperate. He explained that when a local jail releases someone instead of transferring them to ICE, agents must then find and arrest that person in public — in neighborhoods, businesses, or other open spaces. ICE says this is more dangerous and more expensive than a controlled transfer inside a jail.
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Immigrant rights, appeals and protective measures
Senator Schmitt said sanctuary policies have allowed "tens of thousands of criminal illegal aliens" to return to the streets. ICE data shows that nearly 70% of arrests under the current administration involved people who were charged with or convicted of a crime in the United States. However, ICE also confirmed that having a criminal record is not required for someone to be arrested and placed in removal proceedings — the legal process that can lead to deportation.
What This Means for Immigrants in Sanctuary Cities
If you live in a city or state that has sanctuary policies, this law means ICE now has more money and more staff to find and arrest people outside of jails. Sanctuary policies do not make you immune from federal immigration enforcement. ICE agents can still arrest you at home, at work, or in public. The new funding is specifically designed to increase those kinds of arrests in places that do not cooperate with ICE.
What to Do
- Know your rights during an ICE arrest. You have the right to remain silent. You do not have to answer questions about your immigration status. You do not have to open your door unless ICE has a signed judicial warrant — a warrant signed by a judge, not just an ICE administrative warrant.
- Contact an immigration lawyer as soon as possible. If you are in removal proceedings (the court process that can lead to deportation), a lawyer can help you understand your options — including applying for asylum, requesting a bond hearing, or filing other forms of deportation defense.
- Prepare a safety plan. Lawyers recommend that immigrants in high-risk situations prepare a plan for their family — including who to call, where important documents are kept, and who can care for children if a parent is detained.
- Do not miss any immigration court hearings. Missing a court date can result in a deportation order issued without you present. If you have a hearing scheduled, attend it — even if you are scared.
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Clients in sanctuary jurisdictions need to understand that local non-cooperation policies do not stop federal enforcement — they only change where the arrest happens. If you have a prior criminal charge or conviction, even a minor one, you are now at higher risk under this new funding priority. You have the right to a bond hearing before an immigration judge, and you have the right to appeal a removal order within 30 days of the decision — do not let those deadlines pass without speaking to an attorney.