Democratic‑led Louisville, Kentucky, reversed its sanctuary city policy Tuesday after a stern warning from the Trump administration’s Department of Justice. Mayor Craig Greenberg, citing federal legal and financial risks, announced the city would now honor ICE detainers for up to 48 hours to comply with federal law and avoid punitive actions.
Mayor Greenberg said the move came only after the DOJ made clear that failure to comply—and maintain sanctuary status—could trigger lawsuits and cuts to critical federal funding. He noted the stakes were “too high,” referencing recent National Guard deployments in Los Angeles amid ICE raid protests.
Attorney General Pam Bondi, representing DOJ, praised the decision as a “major victory” in the administration’s effort to enforce federal immigration laws nationwide. She warned that other sanctuary jurisdictions should take Louisville as a precedent or face “legal action and financial penalties.”
President Trump has made curtailing sanctuary policies a central pillar of his immigration agenda. His administration has threatened ICE raids, withdrawal of federal grants, and lawsuits targeting sanctuary jurisdictions like Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York.
