Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro has roasted the Trump administration’s ham-fisted U-turn on its sanctuary cities list.
The list of “sanctuary cities” that refuse to cooperate with federal immigration officials was abruptly removed from the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) website last weekend after widespread backlash. The Trump administration has threatened to strip federal funding from jurisdictions it deemed noncompliant with federal immigration laws.
Shapiro took a swipe at the about-face in comments reported by the Philadelphia Inquirer.
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“These guys don’t know how to govern,” Shapiro said.
“I don’t know if ChatGPT wasn’t working that day or what,” he added in a quip that drew laughter from his audience.
Shapiro made his comments while in North Philadelphia to announce a lawsuit against the Department of Agriculture over its withholding of federal funds for food banks to purchase from local farmers. A first-term Democratic governor, Shapiro has become increasingly critical of the Trump administration’s policies. DHS had included Philadelphia on its list as well as several other Pennsylvania jurisdictions, some of which contested their inclusion.
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem acknowledged some jurisdictions had pushed back against being included during an appearance on Fox News Sunday.
While ICE Barbie—a nickname Noem has garnered for cosplaying as an ICE agent for immigration raids, among other bizarre publicity stunts—insisted the list would continue to be used, its sudden disappearance left many local officials confused about their status and the potential implications for federal funding.
The Philadelphia Inquirer quoted a spokesperson for the White House who highlighted Trump’s decisive win in Pennsylvania in November.
The spokesperson said Shapiro should “work with the Trump administration to implement the policies Pennsylvanians voted for … instead of embracing dangerous sanctuary policies that put communities at risk.”
The newspaper noted that Shapiro’s office “contends that Pennsylvania is not a ‘sanctuary state,’ and cooperates with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.”
In a statement about the vanishing list made Monday, DHS said it “is being constantly reviewed and can be changed at any time and will be updated regularly.”
However, the lack of transparency and communication from the federal government has exacerbated tensions between state and federal authorities.
