Sen. Ben Cardin Benjamin (Ben) Louis CardinCongress must finish work on popular conservation bill before time runs out PPP application window closes after coronavirus talks deadlock Congress eyes tighter restrictions on next round of small business help MORE (D-Md.) said Sunday that President Trump Donald John TrumpOmar fires back at Trump over rally remarks: 'This is my country' Pelosi: Trump hurrying to fill SCOTUS seat so he can repeal ObamaCare Trump mocks Biden appearance, mask use ahead of first debate MORE is "using immigrants as pawns" with his proposal to send migrants to sanctuary cities.

Cardin, appearing on "Fox News Sunday," also said Trump is more interested "in preserving a political issue" ahead of the 2020 election than he is in finding a solution on immigration.

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“My understanding is it’s not legal. There’s no budget for that purpose. This is clearly a political move for the president. He’s using immigrants as pawns in his political game of chess. He’s not really interested in a solution. He’s more interested in preserving a political issue for the 2020 election," Cardin said.

Chris asks @SenatorCardin if the President plan to ship immigrant detainees to sanctuary cities is legal #FNS pic.twitter.com/lFVjUR3dRT — FoxNewsSunday (@FoxNewsSunday) April 14, 2019

The Washington Post reported last Thursday that the White House previously proposed the idea, which was reportedly shot down by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

But Trump said in a pair of tweets Friday that the administration is giving "strong consideration" to the idea.

"Due to the fact that Democrats are unwilling to change our very dangerous immigration laws, we are indeed, as reported, giving strong considerations to placing Illegal Immigrants in Sanctuary Cities only," he wrote on Twitter.

He tweeted late Sunday that the ”USA has the absolute legal right to have apprehended illegal immigrants transferred to Sanctuary Cities.”

“We hereby demand that they be taken care of at the highest level, especially by the State of California, which is well known or its poor management & high taxes!” he added.