As reported by The Hill

The Republican Governor of Montana signed a bill this week banning sanctuary cities in the state.

Gov. Greg Gianforte (R) signed the bill passed earlier this year by the state legislature requiring all cities in Montana to comply with federal immigration law.

"We are a nation of laws, and immigration laws will be enforced in Montana," Gianforte said in a statement, according to the Associated Press.

The AP reports that the state does not currently have any sanctuary cities.

A number of cities across America in recent years have declared themselves "sanctuaries" for undocumented immigrants hoping to avoid arrest and deportation by the federal government.

The Montana law will require cities to cooperate with federal agencies like ICE and Customs and Border Patrol and gives the state's attorney general, also a Republican, the power to pursue civil action against jurisdictions who refuse.

The state could now legally withhold grants and other funding to cities and towns that do not comply with the state government's new mandate, the newspaper reported.

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