What are Sanctuary Cities?
Sanctuary cities in the United States are local governments that limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement agencies, such as ICE. According to the Migration Policy Institute, there are approximately 200 sanctuary cities across 13 states.
These cities do not participate in the detention of individuals and discourage, without obstructing, any form of active cooperation with the federal government on matters related to migrant expulsions,” explains David Schultz, a law and political science professor at Hamline University.
The sanctuary city movement began in the 1980s when clergy members, left-leaning politicians, and activists helped shelter immigrants fleeing conflicts in Central America. Living in a sanctuary city means, in practice, that undocumented individuals can more easily obtain identification documents.
Some of these cities also facilitate access to certain healthcare programs or housing. The governor of Minnesota, where Mineapolis is located, has reiterated that his state is not a sanctuary, contrary to what the Department of Justice claimed in August.
Mineapolis: A Sanctuary City
Mineapolis is considered a sanctuary city. Its Democratic mayor, Jacob Frey, stated on CNN: “We want undocumented individuals to be able to call emergency services without fear of deportation.”
Trump’s Stance
President Trump has labeled these cities as “sanctuaries for criminals.” The federal government has ordered ICE agents to operate in cities governed by Democratic mayors, such as Chicago and Los Angeles, to conduct raids and deport migrants.
Trump has also sent the National Guard to these cities, including Washington D.C. and Portland, citing security concerns for immigration agents. Tom Homan, the federal government’s deportation policy chief sent by Trump to Mineapolis, recently stated that “all sanctuary cities are dangerous. Sanctuary cities are havens for criminals, and President Trump will not tolerate it… Sanctuary cities are now our priority.”
What Future Awaits These Cities?
The conflict between the federal government and sanctuary city governments has reached the courts.
The federal government requested in a letter dated January 24 that Mineapolis and nearby St. Paul end their sanctuary policies.
The state of Minnesota has sued the Trump administration to temporarily halt immigration raids. According to the state’s attorney general, these operations violate the U.S. Constitution, which protects the sovereignty of the 50 states.
This case could set a precedent for potential lawsuits by other local governments against federal policies.
A federal judge recently prohibited the detention of refugees who are legally residing in Minnesota but do not have permanent resident status.
Another federal judge considered it “likely that ICE has violated more court orders in January 2018 than some federal agencies have throughout their entire existence.”
Key Questions and Answers
- What are sanctuary cities? Sanctuary cities are local governments that limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement agencies, allowing undocumented individuals easier access to identification documents and other services.
- Why is Trump targeting sanctuary cities? Trump views these cities as havens for criminals and has ordered federal agencies to operate in them to conduct raids and deport migrants.
- What services do sanctuary cities provide to undocumented individuals? These cities often facilitate access to healthcare programs, housing, and enable undocumented individuals to call emergency services without fear of deportation.
- What legal challenges are sanctuary cities facing? The federal government has requested that some sanctuary cities end their policies, while Minnesota has sued the Trump administration to halt immigration raids. These cases could set precedents for future lawsuits by other local governments against federal policies.
