President Donald Trump's budget lays out plans to cut funding for several federal programs and services that incentivize illegal immigration, Blaze News has exclusively learned.
Illegal immigration was a focal point of Trump's campaign and is now a focal point of his presidency. With border crossings now reaching record lows, Trump is aiming to defund the "invasion" altogether by cutting taxpayer programs his administration says incentivizes illegal immigration, according to a memo obtained exclusively by Blaze News. These include programs that de-emphasize the importance of the English language and provide special taxpayer-funded, liberally tinged education to illegal migrants.
The president's budget is independent from the House and the Senate's efforts and negotiations, but it serves as a signal and a blueprint for the White House's priorities.
By eliminating these programs, Trump's budget will actively disincentivize illegal immigration and simultaneously save Americans over $5.6 billion.
"President Trump is committed to eliminating the funding of our own invasion," the memo, obtained by Blaze News, reads. "The President's FY 2026 Budget fully funds a strong border, mass deportation, and stops the endless stream of benefits to illegal aliens given preference over American citizens."
Trump's budget would eliminate the English Language Acquisition program, which promotes "educational equity" and touts multilingualism as opposed to encouraging English as the United States' primary language, according to the memo. Under former President Joe Biden's administration, this program was used to fund education for illegal aliens while "simultaneously promoting divisive ideological indoctrination in the classroom." Cutting this program alone would save the taxpayer $890 million.
Other "educational" programs on the chopping block include the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act grant program and the Migrant Education and Special Programs for Migrant Students, saving Americans $729 million and $428 million, respectively. These programs provide various educational services to illegal aliens, oftentimes encouraging "radical diversity, equity, and inclusion," or DEI.
Trump's budget would also eliminate the Department of Homeland Security Shelter and Services Program, which the White House charges "massively facilitated illegal migration" by providing transportation and shelter to illegal aliens in Democrat-run sanctuary cities and states, saving taxpayers $650 million. The budget would also eliminate another $3.5 billion in Migration and Refugee Assistance, which the Biden Department of State used to facilitate illegal migration on the premise of a "mostly bogus refugee status."
By eliminating these programs, Trump's budget would both actively disincentivize illegal immigration and simultaneously save Americans over $5.6 billion.
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The New York City Council filed a lawsuit on Tuesday against Mayor Eric Adams (D) to prevent Immigration and Customs Enforcement from returning to Rikers Island.
Last week, Adams' first deputy mayor, Randy Mastro, issued an executive order allowing ICE to occupy office space at Rikers Island, the site of a prison managed by the city's Department of Correction.
'While we will review the lawsuit, this one seems baseless and contrary to the public interest in protecting New Yorkers from violent criminals.'
ICE was previously booted from the area in 2014 after then-Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) formalized New York City's sanctuary policy protecting illegal aliens ultimately at the expense of public safety.
Mastro's action indicated that there is a "critical" need for federal law enforcement officers' presence on the island to enable them to share intelligence with the DOC and the New York Police Department, particularly to curb "criminal gang activity."
The order stated, "The safety of the City of New York has been jeopardized by violent transnational gangs and criminal enterprises — including transnational gangs such as MS-13 and Tren de Aragua — that have been designated by federal authorities as foreign terrorist organizations."
"There is historical precedent for federal law enforcement authorities to have office space and personnel on Rikers Island as recently as a decade ago," it read.
Adams' administration noted that ICE's return to Rikers Island would not conflict with the city's sanctuary laws because it allows the agency to coordinate only on criminal investigations and not civil matters.
The council's lawsuit argues that Mastro lacked the authority to issue the order, further citing that he failed to first complete a "meaningful independent analysis."
Additionally, the council claims that the action was tied to an alleged "corrupt bargain" between Adams and the Trump administration to have the criminal case against him dropped. Adams and the White House have denied any allegations of a quid pro quo.
"The 'purchase price' — which was agreed to in advance and is now being proffered — is the safety and well-being of immigrant communities and all New Yorkers whose rights are protected by our city's prized sanctuary law," the lawsuit reads.
City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, who is running against Mayor Adams in the upcoming election, stated, "Once again, this City Council is standing firm to protect the rights and safety of all New Yorkers against attacks by the Trump administration — because the city's mayor won't stop placing his own personal interests ahead of the people of our city."
"New York cannot afford its mayor colluding with the Trump administration to violate the law, and this lawsuit looks to the court to uphold the basic standard of democracy, even if our mayor won't," she added.
Kayla Mamelak Altus, a spokesperson for the mayor, told the Gothamist that Mastro's executive action "is expressly authorized by New York City's local laws — the very laws enacted by the City Council."
She noted that Mastro "independently concluded that a federal presence at Rikers to conduct federal criminal investigations is in New York City's best interest and protects public safety, particularly in our ongoing efforts to target violent transnational gangs now present in our city, including those designated as terrorist organizations."
"While we will review the lawsuit, this one seems baseless and contrary to the public interest in protecting New Yorkers from violent criminals," Mamelak Altus added.
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A donor with ties to the Chinese Communist Party reportedly helped Boston Mayor Michelle Wu's (D) 2021 campaign raise $300,000.
The Daily Caller News Foundation reported Monday that Gary Yu, the founder of Boston International Media Consulting, helped Wu's mayoral campaign raise hundreds of thousands of dollars "from the Chinese American community."
'Wu's ultra-leftism makes her the perfect candidate for CCP recruitment and capture.'
Yu's consulting group focuses on "public relations, event planning, [and] media promotion for Chinese companies" seeking to advertise in North America, according to the company's LinkedIn page.
The DCNF claimed that Yu has ties to the CCP, reporting that he is "listed as an official" with the United Front Work Department, a CCP agency.
"China uses 'United Front' work to co-opt and neutralize sources of potential opposition to the policies and authority of its ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP)," according to the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission. "The CCP's United Front Work Department (UFWD)—the agency responsible for coordinating these kinds of influence operations—mostly focuses on the management of potential opposition groups inside China, but it also has an important foreign influence mission."
Yu also works as a U.S. talent recruiter for "at least half a dozen Chinese regional governments," according to reports reviewed by DCNF.
Gordon Chang, an author and China expert, told the news outlet, "The Communist Party's UFWD never rests."
"There is no ethnic Chinese official in America who is not targeted. It's time for law enforcement to investigate the CCP's ties to Gary Yu and Yu's ties to Mayor Michelle Wu," Chang added.
"Wu's ultra-leftism makes her the perfect candidate for CCP recruitment and capture," he continued. "Or do we have it backward? Is her ultra-leftism the result of CCP recruitment and capture? More than just the people of Boston would like to know."
Since 2018, Yu has personally donated $45,515 to local Democratic politicians, including $3,200 to Wu, $2,175 to Governor Maura Healey, and $3,000 to State Auditor Diana DiZoglio, according to records from the Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance.
Wu, Yu, Healey, DiZoglio, and Boston International Media Consulting did not respond to the DCNF's requests for comment.
Last month, Wu and several other sanctuary mayors were referred to the Department of Justice for a criminal investigation for allegedly harboring illegal aliens.
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) submitted the criminal referral following a House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform hearing where the mayors were pressed about the impact of their cities' policies.
Wu faced public backlash for dishing out $650,000 in taxpayer funds to prepare for the hearing. Amid the scrutiny, she doubled down on her decision.
"It is money that I very, very much wish we did not have to spend at all, and time from my staff and team that could have gone to much better, much more important things. But the stakes are high," Wu stated.
During a March 19 State of the City address, Wu defended Boston's policies and criticized President Donald Trump for his stand on illegal immigration.
"No one tells Boston how to take care of our own, not kings, and not presidents who think they are kings. Boston was born facing down bullies," she stated.
Then addressing migrants, she added, "You belong here."
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Massachusetts released illegal aliens with child rape charges back onto the streets by setting low bail amounts.
A Thursday WBZ-TV report looked into accusations by Immigration and Customs Enforcement that local law enforcement had released suspected violent criminals.
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According to ICE press releases, Boston Police freed one individual, and others were released from jails or courts.
Jose Fernando-Perez, an illegal alien from Guatemala, was charged with three counts of forcible rape of a child and three counts of aggravated rape of a child. ICE arrested him in February after a court ignored the agency's detainer request, releasing him on "pre-trial conditions" in October 2022. WBZ reported that Fernando-Perez posted $7,500 bail with an order to remain at home.
'Giving sanctuary to violent criminal immigrants.'
Acting field office director for ICE's Enforcement and Removal Operations Boston, Patricia Hyde, stated that Fernando-Perez "is exactly the type of alien we are targeting with our 'worst first' policy."
"He posed a significant danger to the children of Massachusetts, and we will not tolerate such a threat to our community," Hyde said.
Stivenson Omar Perez-Ajtzalan, also an illegal alien from Guatemala, was charged with aggravated rape of a child with a 10-year age difference. He, too, posted his $7,500 bail and was released with a GPS monitor, according to WBZ. He was apprehended by ICE earlier this month.
"Not only did Perez display a blatant disregard for our immigration laws, he sexually assaulted a child. He came to this country to do harm, and now he must be made to face the consequences of his actions," Hyde stated.
Juan Alberto Rodezno-Marin, an illegal alien from Honduras, was released with a GPS monitor after he was charged with "indecent assault and battery on [a] person over 14, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, masked armed robbery and assault to rape." He was apprehended by ICE in January.
WBZ reported that Worcester County Jail released two individuals accused of child rape after they posted just $500 bail.
Two other inmates facing cocaine and fentanyl trafficking charges were bailed out on $500 and $4,000 bail.
Worcester County Sheriff Lewis Evangelidis told WBZ, "Most people would not think that's an appropriate bail."
Under Massachusetts law, local law enforcement is prohibited from holding an inmate based only on their illegal immigration status, thereby forbidding them from cooperating with ICE detainer requests.
"It's very frustrating for me to know I might have a drug trafficker or a violent offender, I call ICE and they're like, we're very busy with a couple situations, I can't get there for a few hours. I can't hold them right now," Evangelidis stated. "We've seen the detainers triple in the last three years. We were in the 30s a couple years ago. We exceeded 100 in 2024. To me, that means there are more people illegally in the Commonwealth committing crimes."
Meanwhile, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu (D) continues to defend her city's sanctuary policies. During a State of the City speech last week, the mayor said she "stand[s] with immigrants."
"While this national moment isn't the one I — and so many families — had hoped for, I am grateful that my daughter gets to call this city home. Boston is not a city that tolerates tyranny," she said. "Boston doesn't back down."
During a 2023 interview with GBH's Boston Public Radio, Wu stated that everyone has a "legal right" to enter the U.S. to claim asylum and seek shelter.
President Donald Trump's administration responded to Wu's State of the City speech, claiming she had "doubled down on giving sanctuary to violent criminal immigrants."
"Why is Mayor Wu intent on defying the will of the American people and obstructing the Trump Administration's efforts to remove these monsters from our streets?" the administration questioned.
Wu accused the administration of spreading "reckless propaganda."
"Boston is proud to be the safest major city in the country, and we work with all levels of law enforcement every day to prevent crime and hold perpetrators accountable," Wu said. "If the Trump administration is truly concerned about safety, they should fund healthcare and education, support our veterans, pass common sense gun reforms, and stop threatening our economy."
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Democratic Denver Mayor Mike Johnston and his team used Signal, a messaging application with an auto-delete feature, to have secret communications about the sanctuary city's immigration crisis.
KCNC-TV revealed the scandal in a Thursday report, explaining that the mayor and 14 of his senior advisers, appointees, and lawyers created a "Strike Force" group on the application to have sensitive discussions that would otherwise have been accessible to the public through open records requests. Instead, the end-to-end encryption software and its auto-delete feature concealed their communications.
'Giving the impression that we are doing something we don't want the public to see.'
Joshua Posner, the mayor's director of strategic initiatives, sent a text message on January 15 to several administration members instructing them to move their conversations about immigration to Signal, KCNC reported.
Posner wrote, "We are going to use Signal to communicate with Strike Force so that communication remains encrypted and secure (and messages auto delete.)"
He proceeded to explain to the mayor's team how to download the application to their phones.
Steven Zansberg, a Denver attorney, told KCNC that the actions of the mayor and his administration were "unlawful."
"It deprives us of the rights we have as Coloradans to observe the conduct of public business," he stated, noting that three years is the "standard records retention requirement."
"It seems like a pretty plain, straightforward, deliberate effort to evade transparency," Zansberg concluded.
Jeff Roberts, director of the Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition, also argued that the move undermined that state's open records law.
"This is not transparent," Roberts told the news outlet. "They are giving the impression that we are doing something we don't want the public to see. The city is saying at the get-go, 'These are records the public should never see.'"
When confronted about the messaging scandal, Johnston's office blamed President Donald Trump's administration.
Jordan Fuja, a spokesperson for the mayor, told KCNC, "When President Trump took office in January, it was clear that there would be rapidly developing changes to the way the federal government interacts with cities that could have significant impacts on how Denver operates. The particular group was started in January for internal staff to easily keep track of and share information regarding federal actions that impact Denver under the new administration."
Fuja argued, "The City retention schedule does not obligate city employees to retain electronic mail messages."
KCNC reported that the city confirmed Signal messages were set to auto-delete from January 15 to January 29, after which the feature was disabled.
The decision to move the communication to Signal came just weeks after America First Legal requested that Johnston's administration turn over communications related to immigration issues.
AFL demanded "all records, including communications, calendar entries, and documents mentioning or belonging to Mike Johnston, Mayor since November 1, 2024."
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Boston Mayor Michelle Wu (D) admitted to spending $650,000 in legal fees to prepare her for last week's congressional oversight hearing on sanctuary city policies.
During the six-hour committee hearing on March 5, lawmakers grilled Wu, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston (D), Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson (D), and New York Mayor Eric Adams (D) over their cities' sanctuary laws.
'Do we need to spend $650,000 of taxpayer funds on a show trial hearing?'
A spokesperson for Wu's office confirmed that the city "expects to pay" up to $650,000 to a law firm for preparation sessions that included the mayor's senior advisers, Cabinet leaders, law department, and Boston Police. For an additional $8,500, Wu brought dozens of her staff members to Washington, D.C., the Boston Herald reported.
Wu's office noted that Cahill Gordon & Reindel, an external law firm, charged the city $950 per hour.
A spokesperson for the legal firm told Boston.com that it "is pleased to represent Mayor Michelle Wu and the city of Boston in this congressional investigation."
During a Tuesday interview on GBH's Boston Public Radio, Wu defended her decision amid scrutiny over the massive legal bill.
She called the committee's investigation "extremely serious."
"As much as it can seem like a sort of show or production when you're watching it, Congress has power, and people who are in the federal government have real power to enact consequences, whether that's on federal funding or whether that is to follow through with some of the threats around prosecution of individual people or the referral to the Department of Justice," Wu said.
"It is money that I very, very much wish we did not have to spend at all, and time from my staff and team that could have gone to much better, much more important things. But, the stakes are high," she stated. "We're still continuing with the document production that has been formally requested."
Wu vowed to continue providing the committee with the requested materials.
"When there was threats to put me in jail, to take away funding, I needed to make sure that I was doing everything possible to represent our city well, to represent the policies with complete accuracy, and having legal representation was a necessary part of that," Wu added.
Josh Kraft, a Democratic mayoral challenger, bashed Wu for spending hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars on legal preparation.
He stated, "Mayor Wu said she's going to DC to defend the city, and I support this. My question is: do we need to spend $650,000 of taxpayer funds on a show trial hearing?"
Kraft told WCVB, "I understand the preparation, but in a time when the city is becoming more and more fiscally vulnerable, I think $650,000 in preparation is a lot of money. If it was me, I would've looked at other more cost-effective measures to prepare for the testimony in D.C., and in addition, I know 12 folks from city hall accompanied the mayor there. I would leave at least probably two-thirds or more back to be in city hall to be responsive to the citizens of Boston."
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'You talk about this due process … Katie didn’t get any due process,' said Joe Abraham, who buried his daughter in January.
Criminals ICE could remove are released from prison into the warm embrace of sanctuary jurisdictions to destroy the lives of more victims.
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