A sanctuary jurisdiction is generally understood to be a city, town, county, or state that has policies or practices designed to protect undocumented immigrants by limiting cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. While there is no single official or legal definition, sanctuary jurisdictions typically do the following:
- Restrict local law enforcement's involvement in federal immigration arrests, detentions, or deportation efforts.
- Limit the sharing of information about immigration status with federal authorities.
- Prohibit or limit honoring Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainer requests unless supported by a judicial warrant.
- Refuse to use local resources or funds to assist federal immigration enforcement.
- Provide community support or offices to advise immigrant populations.
- Prevent local police from inquiring about immigration status except when directly relevant to a criminal investigation.
The goal of sanctuary jurisdictions is to prioritize the safety and well-being of all residents, including immigrant communities, by preventing local police from being involved in immigration enforcement that could lead to detention or deportation. These policies do not shield people from criminal prosecution but seek to avoid using local resources for federal immigration raids and deportations. Sanctuary jurisdictions are often controversial and have been subject to scrutiny and designation by federal agencies when they are seen to impede enforcement of federal immigration statutes. However, federal courts have often ruled that the federal government cannot compel local jurisdictions to participate in immigration enforcement, under the Tenth Amendment.
In summary, a sanctuary jurisdiction is a state, city, or county that enacts policies to limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities, aiming to protect undocumented immigrants within their community from federal immigration actions.
