Battle over Pittsburgh becoming 'sanctuary city' could come with high price

PITTSBURGH — 11 Investigates looked into the potential fallout for Pittsburgh if it becomes a sanctuary city.

The Trump administration has threatened cities that don't cooperate with federal immigration authorities.

The U.S. Department of Justice is threatening to pull hundreds of thousands of dollars in public safety funding from cities that don't assist with immigration enforcement.

It's a threat that could be costly for Pittsburgh, but one city leader says that won't sway their decisions.

When it comes to immigration, everyone has an opinion.

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"Pittsburgh police will not be an immigration enforcement agency,” said Dan Gilman, Pittsburgh city councilman. “That's not their job and it's bad for their safety as police officers and community safety to do it."

Others, like Annisa Coury with the Allegheny County Young Republicans, believe cities have to comply with the federal law and she doesn't want to see the city lose out on thousands of dollars in funding.

The Justice Department is threatening to withhold a public safety grant unless cities help with immigration enforcement.

Pittsburgh hasn't been named by the DOJ, but 11 Investigates has learned the city received more than $232,000 from the Edward Byrne Justice Assistance Grant last year.

In a statement to Channel 11, a spokesman for the DOJ said in part: "The Justice Department will only provide Byrne JAG grants to cities and states that comply with federal law, allow federal immigration access to detention facilities, and provide 48 hours notice before they release any illegal alien wanted by federal authorities. This is what the American people should be able to expect from their cities and states."

But Gilman says strong words from Washington won't influence the city's policy.

"I will not be blackmailed or threatened at that kind of level where I'm weighing public safety for one citizen over another,” Gilman said. “If I have to come up with other money in the city budget, I'll do that."

While Pittsburgh is not technically a sanctuary city, it's unclear if it will be directed by the DOJ to begin cooperating on immigration enforcement.

Cox Media Group