The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has abruptly taken down its recently published list of "sanctuary jurisdictions," just days after making it public. The list, which included hundreds of cities, counties, and states across 37 states and the District of Columbia, identified localities that DHS claimed were not complying with federal immigration enforcement efforts.
The move follows backlash from local officials and law enforcement, many of whom challenged their inclusion and questioned the criteria used to designate their communities as sanctuary jurisdictions Some mayors and county leaders expressed surprise, stating they do not consider their jurisdictions to be "sanctuary" and that the process lacked transparency.
The list was part of a broader initiative following an April executive order directing DHS to publicly identify and notify jurisdictions that obstruct federal immigration law enforcement According to DHS, the designation was based on factors such as self-identification, noncompliance with federal law enforcement, restrictions on information sharing, and legal protections for undocumented immigrants.
DHS officials stated the list is under constant review and may be updated or changed at any time. For now, the list is no longer accessible on the agency’s website, and affected jurisdictions have been formally notified of their status and given the opportunity to respond or revise their policies The debate over sanctuary policies and federal immigration enforcement remains ongoing as localities and the federal government navigate legal and political challenges.
