DeBlasio to CNN: It's OK to shield undocumented drunk drivers

New York City Mayor Bill DeBlasio told CNN's Jake Tapper that it is OK to shield undocumented immigrants who drive drunk from federal authorities if it does not "lead to any other negative outcome."

Tapper asked the Democratic mayor on Sunday's "State of the Union" if he would comply with federal authorities following President Trump's executive order to halt funding to cities that do not cooperate with immigration officials by presenting a specific scenario.


"If you’re a drunk driver and you’re an undocumented immigrant, why should there be a place for you in this country?” Tapper asked.

"Jake, there are 170 offenses in that law that are listed as serious and violent crimes that lead to automatic cooperation between the city of New York and our federal partners,” DeBlasio replied. “So any serious and violent crime, we’re going to work with them.”

“Is grand larceny or drunk driving a very minor offense?” Tapper followed.

“Drunk driving that does not lead to any other negative outcome, I could define as that,” DeBlasio said.



According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving, nearly 10,000 Americans are killed each year as a result of drunk driving, or 27 people per day.

President Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday stating the government will "strip federal grant money from the sanctuary states and cities that harbor illegal immigrants," according to press secretary Sean Spicer.