The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Thursday named more than 500 cities, counties, and states it considers sanctuary jurisdictions, accusing them of obstructing federal immigration enforcement. The move is part of a renewed push by the Trump administration to increase pressure on communities it believes are standing in the way of the president’s mass deportation agenda.
The list, now publicly available on the DHS website, identifies jurisdictions deemed noncompliant with federal immigration laws. Each will receive formal notice from the federal government and could face legal action or loss of federal funding under directives set forth in a recent executive order.
Why It Matters
This announcement escalates the Trump administration’s long-standing campaign against so-called sanctuary jurisdictions—communities that limit cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). By publishing the list and threatening financial penalties or legal consequences, the administration is seeking to force compliance with its immigration enforcement policies ahead of intensified deportation efforts.
Critics say the tactic threatens federalism and undermines trust between immigrant communities and local law enforcement. Supporters argue it’s necessary to remove undocumented immigrants—particularly those with criminal records—and restore law and order.
What to Know
The list includes over 500 jurisdictions, identified based on several factors: whether they publicly declared sanctuary policies, restricted information-sharing with ICE, or provided legal protections for undocumented immigrants.
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem accused sanctuary leaders of “endangering Americans” by shielding violent criminals, calling them obstacles to law enforcement.
There is no official legal definition for a “sanctuary jurisdiction,” but the term often refers to places where local law enforcement doesn’t fully cooperate with ICE detainer requests or federal immigration authorities.
Trump’s April 28 executive order directs DHS and the Department of Justice to publish this list regularly and find federal grants or contracts to suspend for listed jurisdictions.
ICE has around 6,000 officers nationwide, and the administration uses local partnerships—like 287(g) agreements—to expand enforcement capabilities by allowing local officers to carry out immigration duties.
What People Are Saying
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said in a press release: “These sanctuary city politicians are endangering Americans and our law enforcement in order to protect violent criminal illegal aliens.”
Murad Awawdeh, president and CEO of the New York Immigration Coalition, said in a press release last month: “President Trump’s latest executive order targeting sanctuary cities is designed to punish local governments for upholding their own public safety policies and refusing to collude with his mass deportation agenda.
“This executive order is nothing more than an intimidation tactic designed to undermine the ability of local governments to enact the policies they believe best safeguard their communities, while strong-arming localities into becoming complicit with Trump’s attacks on immigrants.”
President Donald Trump, in an April Truth Social post: “No more Sanctuary Cities! They protect the Criminals, not the Victims. They are disgracing our Country, and are being mocked all over the World. Working on papers to withhold all Federal Funding for any City or State that allows these Death Traps to exist!!!”
San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu, in a statement to Newsweek last month: “Trump cannot coerce cities into taking on the federal government’s immigration responsibilities. The Administration wants to commandeer local police officers as federal ICE agents while strong-arming local officials with threats of withholding federal funds.
“Trump is illegally asserting rights the federal government does not have, as courts already determined during the first Trump Administration. Eroding trust between our communities and local law enforcement will make us all less safe. The Administration’s actions are illegal and authoritarian, and our lawsuit seeks to put a stop to it.”
What Happens Next
Jurisdictions on the list will receive formal notices of noncompliance. If they continue to “remain in defiance,” DHS and the DOJ are empowered to pursue “legal remedies and enforcement measures,” which could include lawsuits or cuts to federal funding.
The list will be updated regularly and federal agencies—coordinating with the Office of Management and Budget—will review grants and contracts tied to these jurisdictions for possible suspension or termination.
Legal challenges are expected, as similar Trump-era actions have previously faced snags in federal courts.
This article contains reporting by The Associated Press.
The post The Sanctuary Cities, Counties and States the Trump Admin Just Put on Notice appeared first on Newsweek.
