ROCHESTER, N.Y. — President Donald Trump’s recent threat to cut funding to sanctuary cities, including Rochester, has sparked criticism from local officials.
“Additionally starting February 1st, we’re not making any payments to sanctuary cities,” Trump said.
The city of Rochester responded by releasing a statement Wednesday, asserting that the president’s threat would violate a standing court order.
The city referenced a preliminary injunction issued last August, which prevents the Trump administration from withholding funding from Rochester due to its sanctuary city status.
City leaders expressed confidence that the president will respect the rule of law and the power of the federal courts. They said they look forward to continuing to receive federal funding.
The full statement follows:
The federal administration’s threat against the City of Rochester as a sanctuary city would violate a standing court order. Rochester joined the matter of City and County of San Francisco, et al. v. Trump, et al., 25-cv-1350 (N.D. Cal.) last summer and is protected by a preliminary injunction issued in August 2025 that bars the Trump Administration from withholding funding from Rochester on the basis of our Sanctuary City status. We expect that the Trump Administration will respect the rule of law and the power of the federal courts, its co-equal branch of government. The City of Rochester looks forward to continued receipt of federal funding.
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