Louisville, Kentucky, has officially scrapped its sanctuary city policies in a major reversal prompted by the Trump administration’s aggressive enforcement stance on illegal immigration. The move, announced Tuesday, marks the latest victory in President Trump’s nationwide crackdown on jurisdictions defying federal immigration law.
The Louisville Metro Department of Corrections will now honor immigration detainers issued by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), a key demand from the Department of Justice. Under the policy, illegal aliens arrested for crimes will be held for up to 48 additional hours to allow ICE agents time to take custody.
Democrat Mayor Craig Greenberg admitted the change came after direct pressure from the Trump administration, which warned that Louisville was in violation of federal law. In a letter from the Justice Department, the city was told it risked lawsuits and a loss of federal funding unless it reversed course.
“I have been assured by the U.S. Department of Justice that, if we reinstate the 48-hour detainers for inmates who’ve been arrested for crimes, Louisville will be taken off the federal sanctuary city list,” Greenberg said. “The stakes are too high.”
The mayor’s remarks referenced recent unrest in Los Angeles, where National Guard troops were deployed in response to violent protests over ICE enforcement operations. Greenberg made it clear that Louisville was not willing to take the same risk.
“We do not want the National Guard occupying the streets of Louisville,” Greenberg said. “Cities on the sanctuary city list right now are experiencing a terrifying increase in raids by ICE, including mass raids… Just look at what’s gone on in LA and other cities.”
Despite the change, Greenberg said the city would stop short of full ICE cooperation. Local law enforcement officers, he insisted, would not actively participate in immigration enforcement beyond complying with detainer requests. Still, the city’s about-face marks a sharp departure from the defiance that had characterized sanctuary jurisdictions in recent years.
Attorney General Pam Bondi, who has spearheaded President Trump’s legal efforts against sanctuary cities, hailed the development as a major policy win.
“The city of Louisville is dropping its sanctuary city policies as a result of a strong written warning from my office,” Bondi posted on X. “This should set an example to other cities. Instead of forcing us to sue you — which we will, without hesitation — follow the law, get rid of sanctuary policies, and work with us to fix the illegal immigration crisis.”
The Trump administration’s pressure campaign has triggered a growing wave of compliance. DOJ sources confirm that multiple cities currently on the “sanctuary watchlist” have entered communication with federal authorities in recent days.
The shift in Louisville comes amid the largest domestic immigration enforcement push in U.S. history. Under Trump’s orders, ICE is now conducting daily raids with the goal of reaching 3,000 arrests per day — up nearly fivefold from earlier this year. Key targets include Democrat-controlled strongholds like New York City, Chicago, San Francisco, and now Louisville.
The message from the Trump administration is clear: sanctuary policies will no longer be tolerated — and those who resist federal law will face consequences.
Louisville’s reversal may be just the beginning. With the Trump DOJ applying legal, financial, and military pressure, other blue cities are beginning to feel the heat. And for now, one thing is certain: the era of unchecked sanctuary defiance is coming to an end.
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