Newly sworn-in Attorney General Pam Bondi opened up about her relationship with President Donald Trump and what she plans to accomplish in her role as the nation’s top law enforcement official.
During an interview outside of the White House, Bondi spoke with Fox News host Sean Hannity about important topics including safety, immigration, and national security.
She highlighted the close-knit nature of Trump’s cabinet, saying they resemble a tight circle of friends, “Donald Trump has created an incredible team of people who, truly, we were pre-existing friends. So many of us.”
“We get along great and we work so well together,” Bondi remarked. “We truly like each other and we support everything President Trump is doing and we are all here to protect our country,” she said.
Bondi also sent a “clear message” to any city or state that shields illegal aliens with so-called “sanctuary” policies the leaders of those jurisdictions could face criminal charges.
Bondi’s warning came after the Justice Department filed a lawsuit against the state of Illinois and the city of Chicago for allegedly protecting illegal aliens from being arrested and removed from the country by federal immigration enforcement officers.
The interview also came after Bondi ordered all federal funding through the DOJ to sanctuary jurisdictions while ordering an investigation into the funding of organizations that assist people in the U.S. illegally.
“You’ve cracked down on sanctuary cities. The DOJ has put a pause on all federal funding to sanctuary cities and states. You filed a lawsuit against Chicago and the state of Illinois for being a sanctuary city. Am I wrong in my interpretation that a sanctuary city is aiding and abetting and law-breaking?” Hannity asked.
“Sean, what they’re doing is they are choosing illegal aliens over the safety and security of their own citizens and the men and women of law enforcement who are out there trying to protect their citizens,” Bondi said. “Not only did we sue today the City of Chicago, we sued the state of Illinois, we sued the mayor, we sued the governor, and we sued others.
“And let me be very clear: if you don’t comply with federal law, you’re going to be next,” she added.
WATCH:
The lawsuits filed on Thursday allege that “sanctuary” policies throughout Illinois and Cook County, which encompasses Chicago, are an “intentional effort to obstruct the Federal Government’s enforcement of federal immigration law and to impede consultation and communication between federal, state, and local law enforcement officials that is necessary for federal officials to carry out federal immigration law and keep Americans safe.”
Meanwhile, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis last week signed an agreement that will deputize state Highway Patrol officers to act on behalf of federal immigration authorities, Fox News reported.
On January 29, Governor DeSantis held a series of discussions with law enforcement officials and Floridians impacted by illegal immigration to address the need for new state legislation to support the Trump administration’s efforts in combating illegal immigration, according to a statement from the governor’s office.
During the meetings, he signed a memorandum between the Florida Highway Patrol and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), granting troopers the authority to exercise immigration enforcement powers, the outlet reported.
“Governor DeSantis understands the role of law enforcement and wants to provide the strongest immigration law possible, empowering law enforcement to get to work and deport illegal aliens residing in the state,” Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Executive Director Dave Kerner said in a statement with DeSantis’ announcement.
“Troopers are going to do what they’re told to do. … We’re going to become the tip of the spear,” William Smith, president of the Florida Highway Patrol chapter of Florida’s Police Benevolent Association, told the outlet. “But it would be nice to know that … we have additional funding.”
