On Thursday, the Department of Homeland Security, published a list of “sanctuary jurisdictions” that they claim are blocking the administration’s immigration enforcement.
The DHS said that the more than 500 jurisdictions would be receiving formal notice that the government deems them noncompliant and whether the administration believes that they are in violation of federal crimes.
“These sanctuary city politicians are endangering Americans and our law enforcement in order to protect violent criminal illegal aliens,” DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said in a press release.
The list was formulated using a number of different factors such as the city’s previous level of compliance with the administration’s crackdown on immigration, if they provided legal protections for people who have immigrated illegally, and whether they had restrictions on information sharing with immigration enforcement.
On April 28, Trump signed an executive order directing the DHS and attorney general to publish a list of states that it believes has been obstructing federal immigration laws. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) would then work with departments to suspend or terminate grants and contracts of those jurisdictions.
The administration gave the DHS and attorney general the right to punish the jurisdictions that, after receiving notice, they feel continue to defy orders and use any legal avenues available to force them into compliance.
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott whose city is on the list responded saying that Baltimore is not a sanctuary city and that the city does not control the jails. He also said he would not apologies for the city being “welcoming” and that they are poised to take legal action to protect the city’s immigrant community.
To be clear: by definition, Baltimore is not a sanctuary city. But we are a welcoming city. We WILL remain committed to protecting the rights, dignity, and wellbeing of all of our residents. pic.twitter.com/dX29zr4vha
— Brandon M. Scott (@MayorBMScott) May 29, 2025
“We are better because of our immigrant neighbors, and are not about to sell them out to this administration,” Scott said.
So far, Trump’s attempts to withhold funding from sanctuary cities has had an unimpressive journey in the courts, with judges blocking the administration’s ability to admonish cities in this manner.
