Why Donald Trump is now targeting ‘sanctuary cities’ in latest executive order

US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order this week, targeting so-called 'sanctuary cities'.

When Trump was sworn in as the 47th president back in January, he wasted no time signing off a number of executive orders.

He's also made no secret of his immigration crackdown, which he has described as the 'largest deportation in American history'.

This week, a newly signed executive order is taking aim at 'sanctuary cities' - but what are they?

What is a ‘sanctuary city’?

A 'sanctuary city' is a US jurisdiction that limits cooperation with federal immigration authorities and uses resources to support local communities, with large immigrant populations.

These areas use policies to protect immigrants by limiting the involvement of federal law enforcement.

The policies help create trust between immigrant communities and local police forces, without fear they could be deported.

Global Refuge explain: "There is no official definition of what constitutes a 'sanctuary city' or state/jurisdiction. In general, it refers to a policy that limits or defines the extent to which a local/state government will share information with federal immigration law officers."

Which locations have been identified as ‘sanctuary cities’?

According to the Center for Immigration Studies, there are 220 sanctuary cities in the US and 13 sanctuary states.

These are: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont and Washington.

Trump signed off a number of executive orders in January (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

What does Trump’s executive order aim to do?

The order requests that the attorney general and secretary of homeland security publish the jurisdictions that 'obstruct the enforcement of federal immigration laws'.

The order requires them to publish a list of jurisdictions, notify each jurisdiction of non-compliance and provide them with a chance to comply.

During Trump's election campaign last year, he pledged to eliminate sanctuary cities. Meanwhile, the day after he was inaugurated, he signed an executive order calling for federal grants to the jurisdictions to be cut.

However, a federal judge has ruled that withholding funding from these areas could be 'unconstitutional'.

At the White House earlier this week, press secretary Karoline Leavitt said: "It's quite simple. Obey the law, respect the law, and don't obstruct federal immigration officials and law enforcement officials when they are simply trying to remove public safety threats from our nation's communities."

Trump has signed an executive order relating to 'sanctuary cities' (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Why is Trump’s executive order sparking backlash?

Many people support sanctuary cities as a way of creating a safe environment for immigrants.

Last week, a judge ruled that the Trump administration cannot deny funds to the sanctuary jurisdictions as it may be unconstitutional.

“The cities and counties have also demonstrated a likelihood of irreparable harm,” Judge William Orrick wrote. “The threat to withhold funding causes them irreparable injury in the form of budgetary uncertainty, deprivation of constitutional rights, and undermining trust between the cities and counties and the communities they serve.”

Meanwhile, Keith Wilson, mayor of Portland, wrote earlier this year: "We stand together in solidarity with our immigrant families," adding that the city would try to 'keep undocumented families safe by slowing or stopping cooperation with overreaching federal immigration enforcement.'