Trump administration increases pressure on ‘sanctuary jurisdictions’ with public listing

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The Department of Homeland Security has notified over 500 “sanctuary jurisdictions” in the United States that the Trump administration sees them as hindering immigration enforcement efforts. By increasing pressure on communities believed to impede the president’s mass deportation plans, the department aims to hold these locales accountable.

On Thursday, a list of these jurisdictions was released by the department, with each slated to receive official notification of their noncompliance status. If found in violation of federal criminal statutes, they will face consequences. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem highlighted concerns about sanctuary city leaders jeopardizing public safety by shielding violent criminal illegal immigrants.

The administration has consistently singled out communities, states, and jurisdictions it perceives as not adequately supporting Immigration and Customs Enforcement to fulfill President Trump’s pledge to remove millions of undocumented individuals. Factors considered in compiling the list included self-identification as sanctuary jurisdictions, cooperation levels with federal immigration authorities, restrictions on information sharing, and legal protections for undocumented residents.

An executive order signed by Trump on April 28 mandated the publication of a list of non-compliant states and localities by the Homeland Security Secretary and the Attorney General. Federal grants or contracts with these jurisdictions identified as “sanctuary” would be reviewed by federal departments for possible suspension or termination as outlined in the executive order.

In cases where “sanctuary jurisdictions” persist in defiance, the attorney general and the Homeland Security Secretary are authorized to pursue necessary legal actions to secure compliance. While there is no clear legal definition of a “sanctuary jurisdiction,” the term commonly refers to entities that limit collaboration with immigration enforcement.

ICE relies on state and local support for executing immigration laws, often through agreements like 287(g) that deputize local law enforcement to assist in immigration enforcement. The Trump administration has significantly increased the number of these agreements, bolstering ICE’s capacity for deportations.

Communities resisting ICE cooperation argue that focusing on crime prevention is paramount and that immigration enforcement falls under federal jurisdiction. The administration has faced legal challenges to executive orders withholding federal funding from sanctuary jurisdictions and mandating that federal payments do not support such policies.

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