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2mo ago

Small Business Administration to Relocate Regional Offices from Sanctuary Cities

The SBA will move six offices from cities with immigrant-friendly policies and implement stricter loan eligibility requirements tied to citizenship.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson (R) testifies during a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing on sanctuary cities' policies at the U.S. Capitol on March 05, 2025, in Washington, DC.
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The U.S. Small Business Administration office in Chicago on March 7, 2025. The SBA is closing and moving its regional office out of Chicago. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune)

Overview

  • The Small Business Administration announced plans to relocate regional offices from Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver, New York City, and Seattle to undisclosed locations that comply with federal immigration law.
  • The agency cited the cities' sanctuary policies, which limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities, as a key factor in the decision.
  • A new policy will require SBA loan applicants to verify U.S. citizenship or legal residency to ensure taxpayer funds only benefit eligible business owners.
  • Critics, including former SBA officials and business advocates, warned that the relocations could harm small business owners who rely on local SBA resources.
  • The move aligns with the Trump administration's broader crackdown on sanctuary cities and efforts to restrict public benefits for undocumented immigrants.