BART directors have tapped the brakes on a call to declare the popular commuter line a “sanctuary” system after being warned that the word might be seen as provocative by the Trump administration, possibly putting millions of dollars of federal funding in peril.

“Nobody knows what is going to happen at this point,” BART board President Rebecca Saltzman said after Tuesday’s meeting, where concerns about the policy’s language surfaced.

At issue was the call to officially declare BART a sanctuary transit system and not cooperate with federal immigration enforcement authorities.

Given the Bay Area’s politics, one might have thought that BART joining a movement already embraced by cities such as San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose would sail through the approval process.

But a chill went through the room when BART General Manager Grace Crunican said she wanted it read into the record that the financially strapped system received about $55 million from the federal government last year. The money went for everything from upgrades to the line’s aging tracks and train control systems to $1.6 million for police, including $200,000 for BART’s canine unit.

Crunican said the “unpleasant facts” are that the Trump administration has made threats about cutting funding to sanctuary cities — and to sanctuary transit agencies as well.

BART General Counsel Matthew Burrows also noted that while the threatened funding cuts may ultimately be ruled illegal, using the word “sanctuary” could be seen as provocative.

The next thing you know, board members were talking about changing “sanctuary” to something less controversial, like declaring BART a “safe zone” or “welcoming” place.

Nothing was decided, and the measure then went back to staff for a rewrite.

However, Director John McPartland said that if no better word could be found, “sanctuary” should be the word.

“We’ll see exactly where the language lands,” Saltzman said, “but the important thing is that our immigrant community will know that they will be safe and well treated by BART.

San Francisco Chronicle columnists Phillip Matier and Andrew Ross appear Sundays, Mondays and Wednesdays. Matier can be seen on the KPIX TV morning and evening news. He can also be heard on KCBS radio Monday through Friday at 7:50 a.m. and 5:50 p.m. Got a tip? Call (415) 777-8815, or email matierandross@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @matierandross