Sanctuary Cities News
Coverage of local government decisions on sanctuary laws and their consequences. The Daily Signal examines the clash between state sovereignty, federal enforcement, and community safety.
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- Opinion
Acting ICE Director: Let’s Charge Sanctuary Cities for Violating Federal Law
Acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director Thomas Homan spoke to Fox News host Neil Cavuto Tuesday about California’s decision to become a “sanctuary state.” Watch above, or read the transcript below. Neil Cavuto: There are sanctuary cities and towns, but a sanctuary state? Well, California officially becoming the first such state in the country. Gov….Daily Signal Staff -
- News
National Sheriffs’ Association Backs Sessions in Push to Defund Sanctuary Cities
The National Sheriffs’ Association came out in favor of the Department of Justice Thursday in Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ push to withhold funds from Chicago and other sanctuary cities. The sheriffs’ association—which represents more than 3,000 sheriffs nationwide—will file an amicus brief in support of the DOJ in ongoing litigation between Sessions and the city…Anders Hagstrom -
- News
California Judge Blocks Trump’s Sanctuary City Order
A federal judge in California blocked President Donald Trump’s executive order reducing funding for sanctuary cities Monday, limiting the administration’s ability to punish municipalities that violate federal immigration law. The permanent injunction follows a preliminary ruling, issued in April, in a suit filed by the city of San Francisco and Santa Clara County. “The Counties have demonstrated…Jack Crowe -
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Democrat Who Opposes Sanctuary Cities Wins Virginia Governor’s Race
In the Virginia gubernatorial race Tuesday between Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam and Ed Gillespie, immigration was a key issue. Northam, 58, the 40th and current lieutenant governor of Virginia, won, and had 925,203 votes or 51.8 percent of the vote with 74 percent of precincts reporting, according to The New York Times. Gillespie, 56, a former…Rachel del Guidice -
- Opinion
Texas Wins the Second Round on Sanctuary Cities
Texas has just won the second (procedural) round in the fight over the state Legislature’s attempt to punish cities that implement sanctuary policies. A three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals temporarily stayed on Monday key portions of the injunction issued in September by a federal judge in San Antonio that prevented the…Hans von Spakovsky -
- Opinion
The Absurd Reasoning a Clinton-Appointed Judge Used to Strike Down Sanctuary City Law
A federal judge in San Antonio appointed by President Bill Clinton, Orlando Garcia, has issued a temporary restraining order against portions of Texas’ new sanctuary city law. SB 4, which was set to take effect on Sept. 1, outlawed sanctuary policies by Texas counties, cities, and municipalities. This order is wrong on two levels: It…Hans von Spakovsky -
- News
Sessions Defends Withholding Funding: No Tolerance for Loss of ‘Innocent Lives’ in Sanctuary Cities
Attorney General Jeff Sessions said Wednesday that a sanctuary city is a “trafficker, smuggler, or predator’s best friend,” specifically taking a whack at Chicago, the first sanctuary city to sue the Justice Department for withholding federal grants. “If voters in Chicago are concerned about losing federal grant money: Call your mayor,” @USAGSessions says. Sessions heralded…Fred Lucas -
- Opinion
Jeff Sessions Set to Block Millions in Funding to Sanctuary Cities
The Department of Justice announced last week that sanctuary jurisdictions will lose access to certain federal law enforcement grants in 2017 if they prohibit officials from communicating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, if they block ICE from interviewing jail inmates, or if they fail to notify ICE of the pending release of criminal aliens ICE…Jessica Vaughan -
- Opinion
Texas Takes Strong and Needed Action on Sanctuary Cities
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott acted to protect the citizens of Texas on Sunday when he signed into law SB 4, a bill to punish (and deter) local cities and counties like Austin from implementing sanctuary policies. Abbott and the legislators who sponsored this bill are trying to stop the Lone Star State from being a…Hans von Spakovsky -
- News
Texas House Passes Sanctuary City Ban With Stiff Penalty for Public Officials
The Texas House of Representatives passed a bill Thursday that places a statewide ban on sanctuary cities and allows state officials to jail police chiefs and sheriffs who refuse to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. The measure also lets police officers inquire about the immigration status of anyone they detain or arrest, including the subjects…Will Racke -
- Opinion
Why This Judge’s Ruling Won’t Block Federal Action on Sanctuary Cities
Media sources are all breathlessly reporting that the Trump administration’s proposed termination of federal funding to sanctuary cities has been enjoined by a federal judge. But that is misleading, and the media is misinterpreting the injunction order in the same way the federal judge misinterpreted President Donald Trump’s executive order. At issue in the lawsuit…Hans von Spakovsky -
- News
Department of Homeland Security: Courthouse Arrests Are Necessary Because of Sanctuary City Policies
The Department of Homeland Security rejected calls Tuesday for its agents to stop making immigration arrests at courthouses, a tactic that has pitted state judicial officers against the Trump administration in recent weeks. A spokesman for the agency said immigration enforcement agents will continue to have authority to seize illegal immigrants at courthouses, if they believe…Will Racke -
- Opinion
The Left’s Sanctuary Cities Hurt Americans’ Safety
Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ announcement on Monday that the Justice Department will bar all sanctuary cities from receiving any grants or other federal funds from the department should be welcome news to Americans—especially those whose families have been victimized by criminal illegal aliens released by sanctuary cities like San Francisco. As Sessions pointed out, Kate…Hans von Spakovsky -
- News
How Jeff Sessions Plans to Fight Back Against Sanctuary Cities
The Justice Department will start enforcing federal immigration laws by discontinuing the funding of sanctuary cities, Attorney General Jeff Sessions said on Monday while speaking at the White House. If carried out, this new policy will result in the loss of federal money for cities that permit residents to be illegal immigrants, as Sessions stated…Caleb Ecarma -
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3 Different Ways State GOP Lawmakers Are Fighting Sanctuary Cities
In states across the country, Republican lawmakers are aiming to combat sanctuary cities and counties, and in some cases banding together to develop new ways to prod local jurisdictions into helping enforce federal immigration law. While these efforts are not unique—18 states introduced legislation to limit sanctuary policies in the 2016 state legislative session—they are…Josh Siegel -
- News
Congressman’s Bill Would Do More to Curtail Sanctuary Cities Than Trump’s Executive Order
President Donald Trump’s executive order defunding sanctuary cities has been widely praised by Republicans in Congress, but one congressman wants to do more to encourage enforcement of immigration laws. Rep. Lou Barletta, R-Pa., said in a press release addressing Trump’s executive order, “It is wonderful to finally have an ally in the White House.” In…James Rogers -
- News
Sanctuary Cities Targeted by Trump Receive Billions in Federal Funds
More than 100 sanctuary cities across America received a total of $27 billion in federal funds in one year, according to a new study. President Donald Trump has promised to withhold at least some of that money if such jurisdictions don’t change their policies on illegal immigrants. Nearly 300 jurisdictions—states, counties, or cities—have some form…Josh Siegel -
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The Showdown Over Sanctuary Cities
In the 1940s, Jan Ting’s parents faced a difficult path to American citizenship following a U.S. immigration ban on Chinese workers that lasted 61 years. Today, Ting is a law professor at Temple University—after serving as a top immigration official under President George H.W. Bush. Ting is also a strong opponent of sanctuary cities that…Sharyl Attkisson -
- Opinion
How Donald Trump Can Put an End to Sanctuary Cities
Just a few weeks ago, President-elect Donald Trump said, “Cities that refuse to cooperate with federal authorities will not receive taxpayer dollars.” And I absolutely agree. Since 2007, I’ve been fighting to end the dangerous existence of sanctuary cities by introducing legislation every Congress. During the Obama administration’s tenure, over 300 cities—including my hometown of…Sen. David Vitter -
- Opinion
Conservatives Could Imitate Left’s ‘Sanctuary City’ Approach
For more than a half-century, it has become abundantly clear that our nation faces increasing irreconcilable differences. At the root is the fact that there is one group of Americans who mostly want to be left alone and live according to the rule of law and the dictates of the U.S. Constitution, while another group…Walter E. Williams