Trump Administration Scraps ‘Sanctuary City’ List Amid Sheriffs’ Outrage

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has removed a public list identifying certain cities as “sanctuary” jurisdictions. This action followed strong criticism from the National Sheriffs’ Association, which represents approximately 3,000 sheriffs and local law enforcement officials.

On Saturday, Sheriff Kieran Donahue, the association’s president, described the list as detrimental to collaboration between local law enforcement and the federal government. He emphasized that it undermines trust and could damage relationships between sheriffs and the White House.

DHS initially published the list on Thursday, but it was no longer accessible by Sunday. The exact timing of its removal remains unclear, although internet archives confirm that it was available until Saturday. In a subsequent statement, a DHS spokesperson indicated the list was under continuous review but provided no specific reason for its removal.

Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, appearing on Fox News Sunday, acknowledged resistance from certain localities but did not confirm the list’s removal. She asserted that some jurisdictions incorrectly believe they don’t qualify as sanctuaries despite their practices of providing safe harbor to undocumented individuals.

This list originated from an executive order issued by former President Trump in April, aimed at identifying cities that do not comply with federal immigration enforcement. The intention was to penalize these jurisdictions by withholding federal funding.

While characterized as “sanctuary cities,” these areas do facilitate some level of immigration enforcement, though they refrain from coordinating efforts directly with federal agencies. This approach has drawn persistent criticism from the Trump administration, which strongly advocates for stricter immigration policies.

Local officials expressed confusion over the list, particularly in North Dakota, where counties like Billings and Morton found themselves inaccurately labeled as sanctuaries. The North Dakota Sheriff’s and Deputies Association voiced concerns regarding the criteria used to compile the list, highlighting the lack of communication from DHS to clarify any inaccuracies.

Furthermore, local advocacy groups have pointed out significant flaws within the DHS list. Steven Brown, executive director of the ACLU of Rhode Island, speculated that the list was withdrawn in response to a barrage of complaints regarding its accuracy.

States initially included in the DHS list encompassed a wide range, from Alaska to Wisconsin. The list also covered the District of Columbia, emphasizing the broad impact of the designation.

Reporting contributions came from Christopher Shea and Amy Dalrymple.