What are Sanctuary Cities and Why do they Exist?

Over the years, in response to greater attempts to enlist state and local law enforcement in the work of immigration enforcement, certain communities across the country have proclaimed or been given the label of “sanctuary cities” or jurisdictions status. Sanctuary jurisdictions exist throughout the United States in the form of cities, states and counties but their operations and descriptions are unique and individual.

Updated: January 2025

What Are Sanctuary Cities?

There is no official definition of what constitutes a “sanctuary city” or state/jurisdiction. In general, it refers to a policy that limits or defines the extent to which a local/state government will share information with federal immigration law officers.

What Does a Sanctuary City Do?

There are a variety of different types of information-sharing or cooperation prohibitions that a city, state, or local government could employ that could result in it being described as a “sanctuary” jurisdiction.

Detainers

Some jurisdictions adopt policies that restrict the ability of local police to make arrests for federal immigration violations or to detain individuals on civil immigration warrants. Such “immigration detainers” are requests by the federal government to hold someone in criminal custody so that federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) can intervene, detain, and potentially deport the person being held. 

287(g) and Local Law Enforcement

Some jurisdictions adopt policies prohibiting “287(g)” agreements, through which ICE deputizes local law enforcement officers to enforce federal immigration law.  Named for Section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), the 287(g) program focuses on encouraging and formally deputizing state and local law enforcement officers collaborate with the federal government to enforce federal immigration laws. 

Detention centers or holding immigrants in detention 

Certain jurisdictions pass laws, resolutions, or local amendments directing that local governments are not allowed to enter into contracts with the federal government to hold immigrants in detention. Others enact policies preventing immigrant detention centers from being constructed in their state, community, or jurisdiction.

Information Sharing with the Federal Government

Certain communities prohibit their local law enforcement from sharing information about undocumented community members with federal immigration law enforcement officers.

Do sanctuary jurisdictions hide undocumented immigrants from federal immigration authorities (Department of Homeland Security)? 

No. Sanctuary policies do not mean that local law enforcement conceals or shelters undocumented immigrants from detection by federal authorities. Nor does it mean that local law enforcement protects undocumented immigrants from deportation or prosecution for criminal activities. State and local police still enforce state and local criminal laws against immigrants who are accused of committing a crime in sanctuary jurisdictions.  

What Is the History of Sanctuary Cities?

As mentioned above, there is no one definition of sanctuary cities. However, the history of sanctuary cities focuses on the term sanctuary – or safe place – and actually does not always refer to immigration-related themes. In 1971, Berkeley, CA became the first city  to claim this status. Instead of questions of immigration, Berkeley declared itself a safe place for U.S. Navy soldiers who resisted the war in Vietnam.

Are the Sanctuary Movement and Sanctuary Cities the Same Thing? 

No. The Sanctuary Movement is a political and religious campaign that began in the 1980s with a goal of providing safety to Central American refugees fleeing civil war. The movement began in March 1982 when six churches publicly declared they would provide sanctuary for Central Americans. Congregations declared themselves “sanctuaries” and provided shelter, protection, material goods, and legal advice to refugees. Many denominations participated and some still do today, including Lutherans, Roman Catholics, United Church of Christ, Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians, Eastern Orthodox, Quakers, Unitarian Universalists, and Jews.

Is Global Refuge a Member of the Sanctuary Movement? 

No. Global Refuge is a faith-based service-providing entity that works with a variety of faith-based and secular partner providers throughout the country but does not provide sanctuary in its facilities, offices or workplaces.