Ant Thornton, Senator of New Mexico, said that states should be held accountable for infrastructure damage caused by riots and supported federal funding restrictions. The statement was made on the social media platform X.
"Seems like the right thing to do," said Anthony L. Thornton. "If you allow lawlessness, you should have to pay for the consequences of your inaction."
Federal funding policies for sanctuary states in the United States have been highly contested. Recent federal administrations have attempted to withhold certain grants from jurisdictions that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities. According to the Washington Post, legal battles have ensued after executive orders sought to restrict infrastructure funding for sanctuary states, with federal judges intervening due to concerns about overreach and critical project delays. This debate highlights the ongoing conflict between federal mandates and state autonomy.
According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, riots in sanctuary states such as California have caused significant infrastructure damage in recent years. For example, violent protests in Los Angeles in 2025 led to attacks on federal buildings and delayed repairs due to security concerns. These incidents have prompted warnings from federal officials about the potential loss of repair funding.
A recent analysis by the New York Post shows that from 2020 to 2024, sanctuary states have received equal or greater federal infrastructure funding compared to non-sanctuary states, with California, New York, and Illinois consistently ranking among the top recipients of Department of Transportation grants. This data suggests that sanctuary status has not yet led to clear funding disparities.
As reported by the New Mexico Sun, Thornton is a Republican state senator for New Mexico’s District 19, elected in 2024 and beginning his term in 2025. Thornton, a retired aerospace engineer and former lieutenant governor candidate, serves on the Senate Education and Judiciary committees and is known for prioritizing border security and election integrity policies.
