Trump administration publishes list of ‘sanctuary jurisdictions’

Stephen Miller discusses immigration policy

Outside the White House, Trump administration senior aide Stephen Miller discussed multiple topics beginning with immigration.

LOS ANGELES - The Trump administration released a new list of so-called "sanctuary jurisdictions" this week, publicly identifying more than 500 communities it claims are not complying with federal immigration enforcement efforts. But the list is already drawing criticism for apparent errors, questionable criteria, and including some areas that support the president’s policies.

The list was published Thursday on the Department of Homeland Security’s website in accordance with an executive order signed by President Donald Trump. It marks a significant escalation in the administration’s effort to pressure state and local governments that limit cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

View the full list at DHS.gov

The backstory:

According to the department, the list was created using several factors, including whether a jurisdiction self-identifies as a sanctuary, limits information-sharing with ICE, or offers legal protections to undocumented immigrants. DHS said the list will be updated regularly.

But critics say the methodology is unclear.

Jessica Vaughan, director of policy studies at the Center for Immigration Studies, which supports stricter immigration enforcement, said the lack of documentation undermines the list’s credibility.

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents knock on the door of a residence during a multi-agency targeted enforcement operation in Chicago, Illinois, US, on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025.  (Christopher Dilts/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

"That’s one thing that I feel is missing from the list — some documentation as to why they’re appearing on the list," she said.

Nithya Nathan-Pineau, an attorney with the Immigrant Legal Resource Center, called the list arbitrary: "It seems quite arbitrary because not all of these states or specific jurisdictions have a policy that limits cooperation with ICE."

What's next:

Each jurisdiction named on the list will receive formal notification from DHS and the Department of Justice. According to the executive order, any community found to remain "in defiance" could face suspended or terminated federal grants and contracts.

Federal agencies, along with the Office of Management and Budget, have been tasked with identifying which funding streams may be affected.

So far, DHS has not said exactly what legal action may be taken, but noted that enforcement measures are on the table.

Surprise listings draw backlash

Among the most confusing aspects of the list: several jurisdictions with no known sanctuary policies were included.

Shawano County, Wisconsin, for instance, believes it may have been added by mistake. County administrator Jim Davel said the only policy vote in recent years was to become a "Second Amendment Sanctuary County" opposing gun control laws—unrelated to immigration.

Other unexpected names include Alexandria, Virginia, and Huntington Beach, California—both communities with histories of cooperation with ICE.

What is a ‘sanctuary jurisdiction’?

Local perspective:

There’s no legal definition for the term. Generally, it refers to a city, county, or state that limits local cooperation with federal immigration authorities, particularly ICE.

The concept has historical roots in the "sanctuary movement" of the 1980s, when religious institutions sheltered Central American refugees fleeing civil wars. Today, many cities adopt these policies to promote public safety, arguing that undocumented residents are more likely to report crimes if they don’t fear deportation.

César García Hernández, a law professor at Ohio State University, said the practice has evolved but continues to reflect a divide between local and federal priorities. "There was no legal guarantee of immunity," he said, "but there was policy."