Sanctuary cities

According to recent court rulings states are not required to enforce federal laws but they cannot impede federal authorities from enforcing the laws. In the famous case of Marbury v. Madison the Supreme Court stated: “It is emphatically the province and duty of the judicial department to say what the law is.” In other words federal law takes precedent over state law. Sanctuary Cities have legally chosen not to prosecute illegal aliens but they may not interfere with the federal government prosecuting these aliens. They have the right not to help the federal government track down illegal aliens but the federal government can then withhold federal funds allocated to law enforcement. Most big cities are controlled by democrats and threatening to take away federal money will get their attention. This is not always the case with republicans as witnessed by the 36 states who refused federal subsidies by not setting up insurance exchanges under Obamacare.