Anti-ICE riots inspire lawmakers to halt federal funding from cities that supported rioters

The anti-ICE riots in Los Angeles last week have motivated lawmakers to draft legislation to withhold federal funding from cities that supported and defended rioters.

"It's unfortunate that we have to propose legislation like this, but this is to codify the memorandum of President Trump," Rep. Tony Wied, R-Wis., said on the "Just the News, No Noise" TV show. 

Wied is referring to legislation titled the SAFE Cities Act which ensures that taxpayer money goes to cities that follow the law and not to cities that protect rioters, ignore unrest and reject federal assistance. 

"This is an act that I'm getting a lot of momentum on right now," Wied said. "People want law and order and the governor and the mayor need to actually do what's right for the constituents and protect law and order."

The anti-ICE riots in "anarchist" cities

Last week, protests and riots broke out across Los Angeles in response to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrests of illegal migrants.

In response to the riots, Trump deployed 2,000 National Guardsmen to the city, despite objections from California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom.

ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons put out a statement that rioters assaulted federal law enforcement officers and criticized Democratic Mayor Karen Bass for her poor leadership during the incident. 

President Donald Trump on Sunday doubled down on his stance and ordered U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to use all its resources to deliver the "single largest Mass Deportation Program in History."

Wied explained that the legislation will revoke federal funding from "anarchist" cities that support rioting. 

"We're going to pull the federal funding from the local jurisdiction if the Department of Justice deems you an anarchist," he said. "That's what we're going to do. This ought to be a deterrent in order to prevent things that are happening like what is happening right now in Los Angeles."

Federal Dep't of Transportation has already cut them off

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced Monday that the U.S. Department of Transportation would not fund repairs for damaged cities caused by anti-ICE rioters. 

"The @USDOT will NOT fund rogue state actors who refuse to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement," Duffy wrote on the social media platform X. "And to cities that stand by while rioters destroy transportation infrastructure — don’t expect a red cent from DOT, either. Follow the law, or forfeit the funding."

Wied explained that the SAFE Cities Act will also help save money and allow law enforcement to properly do their jobs.

"It's great legislation," he said. "We're getting momentum. It codifies President Trump's memorandum. And again, that's what we need to do from a federal government perspective."