Department of Homeland Security removes ‘sanctuary jurisdictions’ list
The Department of Homeland Security’s list of “sanctuary jurisdictions” has mysteriously disappeared from its website, causing confusion and concern among officials and the public. The list, which was unveiled last week, identified portions of 35 states and the District of Columbia that the DHS claimed were undermining the rule of law and endangering the lives of Americans and law enforcement.
“We are exposing these sanctuary politicians who harbor criminal illegal aliens and defy federal law,” the DHS wrote in a statement while announcing the list. However, users who now attempt to access the list on the Department of Homeland Security’s website are met with a “Page Not Found” message and a note that states, “The page may have been moved, deleted, or is otherwise unavailable.”
When questioned about the disappearance of the list, a senior Homeland Security official stated that the list is constantly being reviewed and updated regularly. The official explained that the designation of a sanctuary jurisdiction is based on various factors, including self-identification as a sanctuary jurisdiction, noncompliance with federal law enforcement in enforcing immigration laws, restrictions on information sharing, and legal protections for illegal aliens.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem addressed the issue, stating that the president’s executive order directed the department to recognize sanctuary cities and cooperate with the Department of Justice and Homeland Security to identify them. Noem emphasized that these cities are providing sanctuary to criminals by not supporting ICE officers, honoring detainers, or notifying authorities when dangerous criminals are released from their courthouses.
Despite the list being taken down from the DHS website, the department continues to use it to identify jurisdictions that are not honoring law and justice. The list was intended to notify jurisdictions of their non-compliance with federal statutes and demand that they align their policies with federal immigration laws to protect American citizens.
Some jurisdictions on the list received pushback from local officials, with some claiming that their inclusion was a mistake. For example, Huntington Beach in California, which challenged the state’s immigration sanctuary law and declared itself a “non-sanctuary city,” was still listed. Similarly, Shawano County in Wisconsin, which has no immigration sanctuary policies, was confused with a “Second Amendment Sanctuary County” due to a clerical error.
The disappearance of the sanctuary jurisdictions list from the DHS website has raised questions about the administration’s stance on immigration enforcement. Despite the removal of the list, the department maintains that it will continue to identify jurisdictions that do not comply with federal immigration laws. The situation highlights the ongoing debate surrounding immigration policies and the need for clear and consistent enforcement measures.
