
Sanctuary cities are municipalities that limit or deny cooperation with national governments in enforcing immigration law. They are often associated with reducing the fear of deportation for undocumented immigrants, but critics argue that they obstruct federal immigration enforcement and endanger communities. Sanctuary policies do not conceal or shelter undocumented immigrants from detection, and state and local police still enforce criminal laws against immigrants accused of crimes in these jurisdictions. The number of sanctuary cities has been increasing, with over 560 cities, states, and counties considering themselves sanctuaries as of 2018. This has sparked debates about the role of local law enforcement in immigration enforcement and the prioritization of law enforcement resources.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | A municipality that limits or denies its cooperation with the national government in enforcing immigration law |
| History | The term 'sanctuary' was first used in 1971 when Berkeley, CA, declared itself a safe place for U.S. Navy soldiers who resisted the war in Vietnam. |
| Number of sanctuary cities in the US | Over 560 cities, states, and counties considered themselves sanctuaries as of 2018 |
| Sanctuary policies | Policies restricting the ability of state and local police to make arrests for federal civil immigration violations; policies prohibiting specific agreements that deputize local law enforcement officers to enforce federal immigration law; policies that prevent local governments from entering into contracts with the federal government to hold immigrants in detention; policies restricting the police or other city workers from asking about immigration status; policies restricting the sharing of certain information on immigrants with the federal government; policies restricting local police responses to federal immigration detainers |
| Proponents' arguments | Sanctuary cities help reduce the fear of deportation among undocumented immigrants, encourage reporting of crimes, and foster community connections |
| Opponents' arguments | Sanctuary cities undermine the rule of law by obstructing federal immigration enforcement efforts, endanger communities, and act as magnets for illegal immigration, attracting more people to enter unlawfully |
| Political stance | President Trump's administration has pursued strong immigration enforcement and taken action against sanctuary cities, including threatening to withhold funding; President Biden has proposed eliminating the word "alien" from federal immigration laws and replacing it with "noncitizen" |
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What You'll Learn

Sanctuary cities do not conceal undocumented immigrants
Sanctuary cities are municipalities that limit or deny their cooperation with national governments in enforcing immigration law. They are not bound by federal immigration enforcement and often reject "detainer" requests from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Sanctuary cities also refuse to share information relating to potentially removable immigrants.
Sanctuary policies do not conceal or shelter unauthorized immigrants from detection. They do not shield immigrants from deportation or prosecution for criminal activities. State and local police still enforce state and local criminal laws against immigrants accused of committing a crime in sanctuary jurisdictions. Research published in 2020 by the National Academy of Sciences found that sanctuary policies did not prevent the "deportations of people with violent convictions." The research also found that the implementation of sanctuary policies between 2010 and 2015 did not affect crime rates in jurisdictions with such policies or result in fewer people with violent convictions being deported.
Sanctuary cities are often criticized for undermining law enforcement and endangering communities. Opponents argue that they act as magnets for illegal immigration, attracting more people to enter unlawfully, and that they place a strain on local resources as unauthorized immigrants may access public services. They also highlight concerns about public safety, pointing to cases where a person involved in violent crimes was released instead of being handed over to the proper authorities.
Proponents of sanctuary cities, on the other hand, argue that they help further public safety and reduce the fear of deportation among undocumented immigrants, making them more likely to report crimes to the police. They also believe that enforcement of federal law is not the duty of localities, and that law enforcement resources can be better utilized for other purposes.
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Sanctuary policies reduce fear of deportation
Sanctuary policies are designed to promote trust and cooperation between local law enforcement and communities with significant immigrant populations, regardless of immigration status. These policies are not about concealing or sheltering unauthorized immigrants but instead aim to reduce the fear of deportation and encourage reporting of crimes.
A sanctuary city is a municipality that limits or denies cooperation with the national government in enforcing immigration law. Sanctuary policies take various forms, including restricting the ability of state and local police to make arrests for federal civil immigration violations, prohibiting specific agreements with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and preventing local governments from entering into contracts to hold immigrants in detention.
Proponents of sanctuary policies argue that they reduce the fear of deportation for those who have immigrated illegally, allowing them to feel safe enough to report crimes to the police. This claim is supported by research, which has found that sanctuary policies substantially reduce deportations of illegal immigrants without criminal records. A 2020 study found that sanctuary policies "changed the composition of deportations, reducing deportations of people with no criminal convictions by half" while having no impact on those with violent criminal records.
Sanctuary policies are also believed to foster community connections, raise awareness, and build cultural ties, particularly in European cities, where the term "sanctuary city" refers to supporting legal refugees and asylum seekers rather than illegal immigration. Over 80 towns and cities in the United Kingdom have adopted such policies.
However, opponents of sanctuary cities argue that they undermine the rule of law and endanger communities by not cooperating with federal immigration authorities. They claim that sanctuary cities act as magnets for illegal immigration, attracting more people to enter unlawfully, and that these cities strain local resources by providing access to public services for those who have immigrated illegally.
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Sanctuary cities obstruct federal immigration enforcement
Sanctuary cities are municipalities that limit or deny cooperation with national governments in enforcing immigration law. In the US, this movement can be traced back to 1985 when San Francisco passed the "City of Refuge" resolution, prohibiting the use of city funds and resources to assist federal immigration enforcement. Since then, an increasing number of states, counties, and cities have adopted sanctuary policies, promoting trust and cooperation between local law enforcement and immigrant communities.
While sanctuary policies vary, they generally fall into categories such as restricting police from making arrests for federal civil immigration violations or detaining individuals on civil immigration warrants, prohibiting agreements that deputize local law enforcement to enforce federal immigration law, and preventing the sharing of certain immigrant information with federal authorities. These policies do not conceal or shelter unauthorized immigrants but aim to foster trust and equal access to services.
Opponents of sanctuary cities argue that they obstruct federal immigration enforcement and endanger communities. They claim that sanctuary jurisdictions put law enforcement at greater risk by refusing to cooperate with federal authorities, such as rejecting "detainer" requests from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and not sharing information about potentially removable individuals. Critics also argue that sanctuary cities act as magnets for illegal immigration, attracting more people to enter unlawfully, and strain local resources as unauthorized immigrants may access public services.
Supporters of sanctuary cities, on the other hand, believe that enforcement of federal immigration law is not the duty of localities and that law enforcement resources can be better utilized. They argue that sanctuary policies reduce fear among unauthorized immigrants, encouraging them to report crimes, use social services, and enroll their children in schools without the constant threat of deportation or family separation. Additionally, sanctuary cities provide benefits such as English-language classes, municipal identification, and equal access to bail for immigrants, fostering community connections and cultural ties.
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Sanctuary cities are not defined by federal law
Sanctuary cities are jurisdictions that limit or deny cooperation with the national government in enforcing immigration law. They are generally defined by their refusal to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement, often by rejecting requests from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to detain individuals on civil immigration warrants.
While sanctuary cities are not defined by federal law, they are also not prohibited by it. Neither the Constitution nor any federal statute forbids policies that limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. However, 8 U.S.C. § 1373 is a federal civil statute that prohibits state and local governments from enacting laws or policies that limit communication about "information regarding the immigration or citizenship status" of individuals with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This statute also prohibits restrictions on maintaining such information. Despite this, several courts have found that Section 1373 unlawfully interferes with state and local authority.
The term "sanctuary city" is used to describe a range of policies that restrict cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. These policies can include prohibiting "287(g)" agreements, which allow ICE to deputize local law enforcement officers to enforce federal immigration law; preventing local governments from entering into contracts with the federal government to hold immigrants in detention; and restricting the sharing of certain information on immigrants with the federal government.
Supporters of sanctuary cities argue that enforcement of federal immigration law is not the duty of localities, and that law enforcement resources can be better prioritized towards other purposes. They also believe that sanctuary policies can help further public safety by reducing the fear of deportation and encouraging the reporting of crimes. Opponents, however, argue that sanctuary cities undermine the rule of law and endanger law enforcement by not cooperating with federal immigration authorities. They also raise concerns about public safety, claiming that sanctuary cities can act as magnets for illegal immigration and place a strain on local resources.
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Sanctuary cities promote trust between law enforcement and immigrant communities
Sanctuary cities are municipalities that limit or deny cooperation with national governments in enforcing immigration law. They are often associated with trust acts or community policing policies that aim to reduce entanglement between local police and federal immigration authorities. Over the last decade, an increasing number of states, counties, and cities have adopted sanctuary policies to promote greater trust and cooperation between law enforcement and immigrant communities. These policies do not conceal or shelter unauthorized immigrants but instead focus on fostering safer communities and increased communication between police and residents.
Sanctuary policies take various forms, including restricting local police from making arrests for federal civil immigration violations or detaining individuals on civil immigration warrants. They also prohibit agreements that deputize local law enforcement to enforce federal immigration law and prevent local governments from contracting with the federal government to hold immigrants in detention. These policies are intended to reduce the fear of deportation and encourage immigrants to report crimes without worrying about their legal status.
Proponents of sanctuary cities argue that they help further public safety and reduce deportations of immigrants without criminal records. They believe that enforcement of federal immigration law is not the duty of localities and that law enforcement resources can be better utilized. Additionally, sanctuary policies do not hinder deportations of individuals with violent criminal records.
Opponents of sanctuary cities, including the Trump administration, argue that they undermine law enforcement and endanger communities by obstructing federal immigration enforcement efforts. They claim that sanctuary cities act as magnets for illegal immigration, strain local resources, and hinder the rule of law by not cooperating with federal authorities. However, studies have shown that sanctuary policies do not impact crime rates, and activists argue that they promote trust and encourage crime reporting within immigrant communities.
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