Sanctuary Cities

Started as a public policy in Los Angeles in 1979, cities began designating themselves as sanctuary cities in the 1980s. That policy was developed to protect illegal immigrants by preventing police from asking about immigration status when someone is arrested. Today, the policy has expanded to include other practices, as well.

While these practices may be made by law (de jure practices), they can also be simply from habit (de facto practices). In general, any city that does not allow municipal funds or municipal resources to be used to enforce federal immigration laws is considered a sanctuary city.

Participating Cities

These American cities have all put ordinances in place banning police officers and other city employees from asking people about their immigration status: New York City; Washington, D.C.; Chicago; Los Angeles; San Francisco; Santa Ana; Salt Lake City; Dallas; Houston; Austin; San Diego; Detroit; Jersey City; Minneapolis; Denver; Baltimore; Seattle; Miami; Portland; New Haven; and Portland, Maine.

These are not the only participating sanctuary cities, but are some of the largest.

Political Blocking of Sanctuary Cities

Not everyone is happy with the idea of sanctuary cities. Politicians routinely introduce legislation seeking to block the formation or continuation of sanctuary cities. These Acts and other legislation range from making it illegal to block municipal workers from reporting immigration status to allowing deportation for even the smallest of crimes all the way to making illegal immigration status a felony.

Even in cities where public policy or law is contrary to the existence of sanctuary cities, some larger metropolitan areas continue to have unofficial sanctuary city practices in place.

How Do I Know If I Live in a Sanctuary City?

Cities without political sanctions and that have formal, written sanctuary policies are often the easiest to identify because written policy is a matter of public record. A quick records search at your local political resource will often turn up evidence of any official sanctuary policies in place. Officials may even publicize their city’s sanctuary status.

Cities with unofficial sanctuary policies can be much harder to find. You may have to rely on word of mouth or telltale news stories or political items. Do news reports of violent crime or even traffic stops reference illegal immigrants or mention deportation or the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)? Do public officials routinely employ illegal immigrants for labor on government projects? Do those officials complain about unfair or improper immigration legislation? If so, then you most likely live in a city with unwritten sanctuary policies.

What do I do if I’m Arrested in a Non-Sanctuary State?

There is help. If you are arrested in a non-sanctuary state or find yourself in trouble with the ICE, you may still be eligible to be bonded out of custody while you await your trial. A bail bondsman that specializes in immigration bonds will have the specific information you need to know your rights and your options. For more information and our current agents, please visit www.1800libertad.com/find-an-agent/ or call us at 1-800-LIBERTAD (1-800-542-3782). Agents are available 24/7 to assist you.