Trump administration presses 'sanctuary cities' for documents
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trumpâs administration on Wednesday escalated its battle with so-called sanctuary cities that protect illegal immigrants from deportation  demanding documents on whether local law enforcement agencies are illegally withholding information from U.S. immigration authorities.
Democratic mayors fired back. Some including New York Mayor Bill de Blasio  Denver Mayor Michael Hancock and New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu protested by skipping a previously planned White House meeting on Wednesday with  Trump .
âThis is a destructive ploy by the  Trump  administrationâs lawyers to politicize a routine exchange of information â Hancock said. âI refuse to meet with the president under these kinds of threats and fearmongering.â
FILE PHOTO: Immigrant supporters protest during the Los Angeles City Council ad hoc committee on immigration meeting to discuss the city's response to threats by the  Trump  administration to cut funding from Los Angeles and other jurisdictions which federal officials say are providing sanctuary to illegal immigrants arrested for crimes  in Los Angeles  California  U.S.  March 30  2017. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson/File Photo
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -  [TGT]  escalated  [TGT]  battle with so-called sanctuary cities that protect illegal immigrants from deportation  demanding documents on whether local law enforcement agencies are illegally withholding information from U.S. immigration authorities.
Democratic mayors fired back. Some including New York Mayor Bill de Blasio  Denver Mayor Michael Hancock and New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu protested by skipping a previously planned White House meeting on Wednesday with  Trump .
âThis is a destructive ploy by the  Trump  administrationâs lawyers to politicize a routine exchange of information â Hancock said. âI refuse to meet with the president under these kinds of threats and fearmongering.â
FILE PHOTO: Immigrant supporters protest during the Los Angeles City Council ad hoc committee on immigration meeting to discuss the city's response to threats by the  Trump  administration to cut funding from Los Angeles and other jurisdictions which federal officials say are providing sanctuary to illegal immigrants arrested for crimes  in Los Angeles  California  U.S.  March 30  2017. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson/File Photo