‘Comply with immigration laws, or we are coming after you,’ Pam Bondi tells sanctuary jurisdictions

‘Come to the table or see in court’

“Any sanctuary jurisdiction that continues to put illegal aliens ahead of American citizens can either come to the table or see us in court,” Bondi said in a social media post.

“For too long, so-called sanctuary jurisdiction policies have undermined this necessary cooperation and obstructed federal immigration enforcement, giving aliens cover to perpetrate crimes in our communities and evade the immigration consequences that federal law requires,” Bondi’s letter to Mayors and Governors of sanctuary jurisdictions said.

Any sanctuary jurisdiction that continues to put illegal aliens ahead of American citizens can either come to the table or see us in court.

Today @TheJusticeDept delivered demand letters to sanctuary cities, counties, and states — a key step in our strategic effort to eradicate… pic.twitter.com/aKWNCY4hJN

— Attorney General Pamela Bondi (@AGPamBondi) August 14, 2025

Bondi also warned that officials obstructing federal immigration enforcement could face criminal charges. The letter stressed the importance of cooperation between federal, state and local agencies to enforce immigration law and protect national security.

‘One week to respond’

Later, speaking to Fox News, Bondi said the recipients had one week to respond.

“I just sent Sanctuary City letters to 32 mayors around the country and multiple governors saying, you better be abiding by our federal policies and with our federal law enforcement, because if you aren’t, we’re going to come after you,” she said.

“And they have, I think, a week to respond to me, so let’s see who responds and how they respond. It starts at the top, and our leaders have to support our law enforcement,” Bondi added.

What are sanctuary jurisdictions?

Sanctuary jurisdictions refer to cities, counties, or states in the US that limit their cooperation with the federal government in enforcing immigration laws and act as havens for undocumented immigrants.

According to a Department of Justice Executive Order on August 5, thirteen states, including Washington and New York, four counties, and eighteen cities have been designated as sanctuary jurisdictions, based on actions and policies that materially impede enforcement of federal immigration statutes and regulations