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Miami-Dade county rescinds 'sanctuary' status over Trump's threat to withhold federal funds
DORAL, FL - MAY 29: Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez speaks during a hurricane preparedness press conference at the Miami-Dade County Emergency Operations Center on May 29, 2015 in Doral, Florida. June 1st is the official start of the hurricane season in the Atlantic Ocean and city officials are encouraging people to prepare now for any potential hurricane threat that may happen during the season, which lasts through November 30th. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Miami-Dade county rescinds 'sanctuary' status over Trump's threat to withhold federal funds

President Donald Trump has threatened to withhold federal funding from any city, county or state that has a "sanctuary" policy in an effort to rein in illegal immigration — and it's worked.

On Friday, the Miami-Dade county commission voted 9-3 to rescind their status as a "sanctuary county" over worries that the Trump administration would withhold federal funding from the county, according to USA Today.

The county reportedly receives $355 million in federal funds each year and the county desperately needs each cent.

However, the vote did not come without controversy and protest, as many decried the vote and shamed Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez, who is a Cuban born immigrant, for the move.

More from USA Today:

Dozens of people lashed out at Gimenez and the commission, calling his order a betrayal against residents of a county where the majority of people are foreign-born. One by one, in English and Spanish and fighting through occasional tears, Miami-Dade residents pleaded with the commission to vote down the resolution.

Attorneys challenged the legality of the mayor’s order. Human rights advocates said the order would traumatize families. Undocumented immigrants explained the fear they’re now living with. U.S.-born children whose parents have been deported asked who will raise them. And religious leaders questioned the morality of adopting a policy that punishes the county’s most vulnerable.

After the commission voted, dozens stormed out of the hearing, chanting, "Shame on you."

The move finalized a motion Gimenez began in January when he directed all county jails and law enforcment authorities to cooperate with federal immigration authorities.

"Miami-Dade County is not, has never considered itself, a sanctuary community," Gimenez said. "What Miami-Dade County is, is a community with a large immigrant population that we are very proud of."

Trump has promised to come down hard on sanctuary areas. He signed an executive order last month that sought to end federal funding for cities and states that usurp the federal government's jurisdiction on immigration and shield illegal immigrants.

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