SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - Salt Lake City leaders are proclaiming their support for immigrants after President Donald Trump’s moves to speed construction of his promised U.S.-Mexico border wall and cut federal grants for immigrant-protecting “sanctuary cities.”

The mayor and police chief in Utah’s capital city said at a press conference Thursday that the department will continue its longstanding policy against questioning people about their immigration status.

Chief Mike Brown says that erodes public trust and makes it harder for police to investigate crime. He says federal officials need to listen to police chiefs and avoid taking action that makes their jobs harder.

Mayor Jackie Biskupski says the city isn’t responsible for enforcing federal immigration policy, and Wednesday actions in Washington D.C. have created fear and confusion and could deter people from reporting crimes.

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