Chicago Tribune: Quigley Worries Chicago Sanctuary City Rules Imperil Federal Funding Under Trump

Democratic U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley worries President-elect Donald Trump could use Chicago's status as a sanctuary city for undocumented immigrants to cut off funding to the city.

Quigley addressed the issue on WLS-AM 890's "Connected to Chicago" show after host Bill Cameron asked whether he's concerned about Trump trying to cut off the federal funding spigot to Chicago.​

"The president-elect said he would cut off all federal funding to sanctuary cities — an extraordinary thing to say, particularly for someone who says the federal government should stay out of the local governing of states and cities," Quigley said.

"Am I concerned about it from that point of view? Absolutely," Quigley added. "In the final analysis, though, I think if the president wants to do what he talks about, for example with a big infrastructure package, he's going to need support across the aisle. And if he says none for Chicago, he's not going to get any support from anybody in Chicago, frankly in the Chicagoland area."

While on the campaign trail in September, speaking to an audience in Phoenix, Trump said, "Cities that refuse to cooperate with federal authorities will not receive taxpayer dollars, and we will work with Congress to pass legislation to protect those jurisdictions that do assist federal authorities." It's also in Trump's plan for his first 100 days in office that he released during the campaign.

On Sunday, Emanuel put out a news release reaffirming Chicago's sanctuary city status and saying city 311 operators have been given "special instruction" to help callers with questions about their status in Chicago or the U.S.

Quigley, a former Cook County Board commissioner, also talked about voters on Tuesday approving a referendum that requires folding the county recorder of deed's office into the clerk's office by 2020. That could save about $2 million.

"A minor victory, I was pleased with that," said Quigley, who had included the idea in one of the reports he issued on consolidating government while he was a commissioner. "We could go so much further in consolidating units of local government." (Hal Dardick)