A federal judge's decision on Tuesday blocking President Donald Trump's executive order on sanctuary cities has not had any practical effect. The Department of Justice had not been enforcing the president's order, signed in January, due to a disagreement with the White House over the definition of a sanctuary city, The Daily Caller reported Wednesday.
The White House apparently considers a sanctuary city one that that doesn't comply with federal immigration detainers.
However, The Washington Post reported that the Department of Justice does not accept that and considers the definition to be only those cities in violation of a vague federal statute requiring places not to block communication with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
A group of mayors who met with Attorney General Jeff Sessions on Tuesday came away so convinced of this distinction that Providence, Rhode Island Mayor Jorge Elorza said that "If that's the definition of sanctuary city, then I don't think there are any sanctuary cities in the United States of America."
Elorza added that "What's frustrating to us is we hear very different messages from [different parts of the administration]. … Please among yourselves just have one clear policy, one clear message so we know where we stand and where we don't stand," according to the Daily Caller.
In addition, there has been disagreement between the Department of Justice and the White House over the amount of federal money a sanctuary jurisdiction would lose if it is in violation, with the Department of Justice figure much lower.
The Department of Justice said that its definition of a sanctuary city is the one the Obama administration had and it has been enforcing that statute, which the federal judge ruled was legal.
However, Trump lashed out on Twitter on Wednesday against the court that blocked his order, calling it a "ridiculous" ruling and vowing to take his fight to the Supreme Court.
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