TAMPA (970 WFLA) -- There are more than 100 municipalities across the county that are considsered "sanctuary" cities and counties---places that vow to provide safe haven to illegal immigrants. And one citizens group wants Hillsborough County to join them. But it's doubtful county commissioners will agree. One commissioner says it won’t happen.
This week, Hillsborough County’s diversity committee approved a recommendation for sanctuary county status. Commission chairman Stacy White says he’s diametrically opposed to the idea, and tells other commissioners in a memo that he won’t schedule the matter for discussion.
“We could run the risk of potentially losing federal funding that goes to vital local services”, Commissioner White says. As for people who are here illegally, White says they should understand that they’re always at risk of running afoul of law enforcement.
The Trump administration has issued an executive order denying federal money to sanctuary cities, which to varying degrees, don’t cooperate with immigration enforcement.