Overview

• On May 29, DHS published a list of over 500 cities, counties and states deemed to be impeding federal immigration enforcement under President Trump’s April 28 executive order.
• Jurisdictions were selected based on factors such as self-identification as sanctuary areas, levels of cooperation with ICE and restrictions on sharing immigration information.
• Each named locality will receive a formal notice and faces possible legal action or suspension of federal grants and contracts if officials do not bring policies into alignment with federal law.
• Elected leaders from places including Las Vegas, Colorado counties, Baltimore, San Diego and Minnesota municipalities have rejected the sanctuary label and signaled intentions to challenge the designations in court.
• Critics argue the strategy undermines federalism and risks eroding trust between immigrant communities and local law enforcement, while supporters say it reinforces the administration’s mass deportation agenda.