Chicago – June 02, 2025
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) took down a list of “sanctuary jurisdictions” just days after putting it on their website. The list named over 500 cities and counties in 37 states and the District of Columbia that DHS said were not following federal immigration laws.
The list was part of the Trump administration’s plan to target places that do not help federal immigration agents with arrests and deportations. These places, called sanctuary jurisdictions, usually stop local police from working with immigration officials. DHS said these areas needed to change their policies to protect American citizens instead of undocumented immigrants.
However, many mayors and law enforcement leaders were confused and upset about being on the list. Some places that support strict immigration enforcement were included, while others that protect immigrants were left off. Officials said the list had mistakes and did not explain how it was made. The National Sheriffs’ Association president said DHS did not share clear rules or let sheriffs challenge the list, which hurt trust between local law enforcement and the federal government.
After the criticism, DHS quietly removed the list from its website and said it is reviewing and updating it. They did not say exactly how they chose which places to include or who made the decisions.
