Trump says he’ll end sanctuary city payments by month’s end

WASHINGTON— President Donald Trump said he would cut off federal funding to so-called sanctuary cities at the end of the month in the latest escalation over immigration policy with Democratic jurisdictions.

Trump said his administration had also given “90-day notices” to states like California who would bill the federal government to defray costs associated with caring for new migrants.

“Additionally, starting February 1, we’re not making any payments to sanctuary cities,” Trump said, delivering an economic address in Detroit. “They do everything possible to protect criminals at the expense of American citizens, and it breeds fraud and crime and all of the other problems that come.”

Washington provides money to states and cities that fund a range of programs and activities including health care, education and infrastructure. It was unclear which payments the administration was referring to and a White House spokesperson declined to comment further.

Trump’s remarks are the latest example of the administration trying to use the federal-government purse strings to punish local governments that disagree with its positions on everything from diversity and inclusion practices to immigration enforcement. They also come as cities and states across the U.S. are beginning to roll out budget plans for the upcoming fiscal year.

The federal government recognizes 12 states, four counties, 18 cities and the District of Columbia as “sanctuary jurisdictions,” according to a list published on the U.S. Department of Justice website.

—Bloomberg News

A US Navy sailor told his friend China was asking him to spy for them. Then he did it

LOS ANGELES — A former U.S. Navy sailor convicted of espionage by a federal jury in August has been sentenced to nearly 16 months in prison.

In August 2023, Jinchao Wei was arrested on suspicion of espionage after he arrived for work on the USS Essex at the Naval Base San Diego, according to a news release from the U.S. attorney’s office Southern District of California. He was indicted by a federal grand jury after allegedly selling national defense information to an intelligence officer working for China for $12,000.

“This active-duty U.S. Navy sailor betrayed his country and compromised the national security of the United States,” Deputy Atty. Gen. Todd Blanche said in the release. “The Justice Department will not tolerate this behavior. We stand ready to investigate, defend, and protect the interests of the American people.”

Wei, now 25, held a U.S. security clearance as a machinist’s mate and had access to sensitive national defense information about the ship’s weapons and desalination systems.

On Feb. 14, 2022, Wei was recruited through social media by a Chinese intelligence officer, who said that he worked for the state-owned China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation, according to the release. Wei suspected the intelligence officer’s true identity and motive and later told a fellow seaman that he thought he was “on the radar of a China intelligence organization,” and that he was talking to an “extremely suspicious” person who was “interested in the maintenance cycle of naval ships,” according to the release.

Wei said that the person was “interested in the maintenance cycle of naval ships” and wanted him to “walk the pier” to “see which ships are docked” in exchange for $500, authorities said. Wei allegedly told his friend that “this is quite obviously f------ espionage.”

Wei’s friend told Wei to delete the contact but instead of following his advice, Wei started messaging the person on an encrypted messaging application and began spying for the intelligence officer, according to the release.

—Los Angeles Times

Timothy Busfield surrenders to police in New Mexico amid child sex abuse allegations

Emmy-winning actor Timothy Busfield is officially in police custody in New Mexico, days after allegations that he sexually abused two child actors on the set of the Fox drama “The Cleaning Lady” came to light.

A spokesperson for the Albuquerque Police Department confirmed on Tuesday that the 68-year-old actor “turned himself in at the Metro Detention Center.” Busfield, known for television series “The West Wing” and “Thirtysomething,” will be booked on his arrest warrant, the spokesperson said.

A legal representative for Busfield did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but Busfield denied the allegations in a video published by TMZ.

“I’m gonna confront these lies,” he said in the video, “they’re horrible.”

In the video reportedly filmed at his attorney’s office, the actor said he was informed about the warrant for his arrest on Friday, the same day it was issued. He said he procured legal representation and on Saturday “got in a car and drove 2,000 miles to Albuquerque.”

He added of the allegations: “They’re all lies and I did not do anything to those little boys.”

Busfield said he and his legal team will “fight” against the charges, and he predicted, “I’m gonna be exonerated.” He urged supporters to “hang in there,” thanked them for their support and said he looks forward to returning to work.

Last week, a New Mexico judge issued a warrant for Busfield’s arrest on two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and a single count of child abuse. According to an affidavit, Busfield is accused of inappropriately touching two child actors, who are brothers, while he worked as a director on the Fox drama.

—Los Angeles Times

Greenlanders don't choose the US, premier says ahead of talks

COPENHAGEN, Denmark — Greenland's prime minister made it crystal clear Tuesday that his people in no way want to become part of the United States, ahead of talks in Washington on U.S. claims to the vast Arctic island.

"If we have to choose between the USA and Denmark, then we choose Denmark," Jens-Frederik Nielsen said at a joint press conference with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in Copenhagen.

Frederiksen stressed that it had not been easy to withstand what she termed the "completely unacceptable pressure from our closest allies."

You cannot move borders by force and you cannot buy a population, Frederiksen said.

"The hardest part is still ahead of us," she warned.

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen is due to meet U.S. Vice President JD Vance and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington on Wednesday to discuss U.S. interest in the autonomously governed island, which belongs to Denmark.

Greenland's Minister for Foreign Affairs, Vivian Motzfeldt, is also expected to attend the meeting.

Whether the direct talks will bring any easing of tensions is unclear. The situation is very serious and the pressure on the Greenlandic population is extremely high, Nielsen said.

However, Greenland stands with Denmark and the two countries will go into the Washington talks together — and also leave together.

U.S. President Donald Trump has in recent days again threatened to buy or annex Greenland, citing national security interests. He recently made it clear that he is seeking long-term ownership of the Arctic island.

Denmark and Greenland have been vigorously rejecting Trump's ownership claims for weeks, with the support of numerous European partners, including Germany.

—dpa