American Sanctuary Cities and States
While the second Trump administration has vowed not to recognise ‘sanctuary status’ by cities and states, most sanctuary cities and states will continue to protect undocumented immigrants
Berkeley (CA) Mayor Adena Ishii (left) reaffirmed Berkeley’s status as a sanctuary city. Albany (NY) Mayor Kathy Sheehan said that Albany will remain a sanctuary city. “What we're seeing is a lot of political posturing. We are not concerned about losing federal funding.”
February 2025: In the United States, several states and many municipalities and counties have declared themselves sanctuary states and cities and adopted policies intended to protect undocumented immigrants from federal government immigration enforcement. These states and cities often limit the extent to which state and local governments cooperate with the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency.
Since the beginning of Donald Trump’s second term as US President, the concept of sanctuary states and cities has been hotly debated. Supporters argue that these policies are necessary for protecting immigrants' rights and fostering community trust, while critics claim that they undermine the rule of law and can lead to increased crime by sheltering potentially dangerous individuals. The newly installed US Attorney General, Pam Bondi, has announced that she would strive to cut federal funding to municipalities that designated themselves sanctuary cities.
Quiroga, a Washington State-based law firm specialising in immigration matters, advises sanctuary cities to prepare for a possible rollback in their immigration policies under the Trump government. “Cities should strengthen local legislation that protects immigrants and establish alliances with other cities and organisations to create a support network”
Sanctuary states
Some common features that sanctuary states employ include:
• Sanctuary states often ensure that state-run services and benefits (like education and healthcare) are accessible to individuals regardless of their immigration status.
• Sanctuary states might restrict the ability of law enforcement and other public agencies to share information about an individual's immigration status with federal authorities.
• Some sanctuary states have passed laws aimed at protecting immigrants' legal rights, including providing legal aid funds for immigrants in deportation proceedings.
Oregon was the first US state to have implemented sanctuary legislation. Since 1987, the state does not allow the use of state and local resources for immigration enforcement. California, widely considered as the US state with the most robust sanctuary regulatory framework, is limiting cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration agents. In Illinois, under the Trust Act, local police are prevented from detaining anyone based solely on their immigration status or ICE detention requests without a criminal warrant.
Sanctuary cities
Since ‘sanctuary city’ is not a legal term, cities have adopted policies designed to limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement actions. These policies can vary widely but often involve restricting collaboration with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Some cities describe themselves as ‘sanctuary cities’, others as ‘welcoming cities’. Many sanctuary cities have policies that protect the information of undocumented immigrants and ensure that their immigration status is not disclosed without consent.
Sanctuary cities and states in the US
ALABAMA
The state has banned sanctuary cities. Nevertheless, Birmingham has declared itself a sanctuary city.
ARIZONA
The state has banned sanctuary cities.
ARKANSAS
The state has banned sanctuary cities.
CALIFORNIA
California declared itself a sanctuary state in 2017.
Sanctuary cities
Berkeley
• Mayor Adena Ishii (Democrat). In office since December 2024
The new mayor reaffirmed Berkeley’s status as a sanctuary city. Berkeley was the first US city to become a sanctuary city, passing a resolution in 1971 to protect sailors resisting the Vietnam War. As a sanctuary city, Berkeley is committed not to support, communicate with or submit to the demands of federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers. “No matter who is our president, everyone living in the Unites States has certain basic rights under the Constitution, including undocumented immigrants.”
Huntingdon Beach
• Mayor Pat Burns. In office since January 2025.
Under the newly elected mayor, Huntingdon Beach, formerly a sanctuary city, declared itself a non-sanctuary city. Mayor Burns said the move would help law enforcement follow federal immigration protocols under the new Trump administration.
Los Angeles
• Mayor Karen Bass (Democrat). In office since 2022.
In 2024, Los Angeles adopted a sanctuary city ordinance that prohibits city resources from being used in immigration enforcement or to cooperate with federal immigration agents unless required by state law. LA's new Sanctuary City Ordinance permanently enshrines sanctuary policies into municipal law and prohibits the use of city resources, including property and personnel, from being utilised for immigration enforcement or to cooperate with federal immigration agents engaged in immigration enforcement.
San Francisco
• Mayor Daniel Lurie (Democrat). Mayor since January 2025.
San Francisco has had sanctuary laws in place since 1989. The city says studies have consistently shown immigrants are less likely to commit crimes, while sanctuary jurisdictions either see no increase in crime or have lower crime rates.
Seaside
• Mayor Ian Oglesby. In office since January 2025
Sanctuary city since March 2017
COLORADO
In May 2019, Governor Jared Polis signed a bill immediately prohibiting law enforcement officials in Colorado from holding illegal immigrants solely based on a request from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Sanctuary cities
Boulder
• Mayor Aaron Brockett. In office since 2021
Boulder became a sanctuary city in 2017.
Denver
• Mayor Mike Johnston (Democrat). In office since July 2023
Denver is not officially a sanctuary city but has adopted sanctuary policies such as not enforcing immigration laws. In February 2025, a letter by the US Congress said, “Denver is a sanctuary jurisdiction under Colorado law 8, and Mayor Mike Johnston
confirmed that he was prepared to go to jail to protect illegal aliens from federal immigration authorities.” Mayor Mike Johnson was ordered to appear in front of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reforms
CONNECTICUT
Sanctuary state since 2017.
Sanctuary cities
Hartford
• Mayor Arunan Arulampalam (Democrat). In office since January 2024.
Hartford has been a sanctuary city since 2016. A section of Hartford’s municipal code states that “Policies outlined in this article make Hartford officially a Sanctuary City. Our police force is not going to ask a crime victim or a witness of crime about their immigration status. And we’re not going to detain people solely based on their immigration status.”
Middletown
• Mayor Benjamin Florsheim (Democrat). In office since 2019.
Sanctuary City since 2017.
FLORIDA
The state has banned sanctuary cities.
GEORGIA
The state has banned sanctuary cities.
ILLINOIS
Sanctuary state since August 2017
Sanctuary cities
Chicago
• Mayor Brandon Johnson (Democrat). In office since May 2023.
Sanctuary city since 1985 and re-affirmed in 2012 and 2016. Chicago's Welcoming City Ordinance means that the city will not ask about immigration status, disclose that information to authorities, or, most importantly, deny city services based on immigration status. The Department of Justice is suing Chicago, the state of Illinois and Cook County over sanctuary city policies. The lawsuit alleges that Chicago’s local and state laws violate federal immigration law. Mayor Brandon Johnson has agreed to testify before the US Congress.
INDIANA
The state has banned sanctuary cities.
IOWA
The state has banned sanctuary cities.
KANSAS
The state has banned sanctuary cities.
KENTUCKY
The state has banned sanctuary cities.
LOUISIANA
Sanctuary cities
New Orleans
• Mayor LaToya Cantrell (Democrat). Mayor since May 2018.
The city has been operating sanctuary-type policies since 2016. New Orleans is Louisiana’s only city with a sanctuary policy in place.
Mayor
MAINE
The state’s sanctuary status was rescinded in 2011 under the new Governor Paul LePage.
MARYLAND
Sanctuary cities
Baltimore
• Mayor Brandon Scott (Democrat). In office since November 2020.
In January 2025, the Mayor said Baltimore does not consider itself a ‘sanctuary city’ but a ‘welcoming city’. In response to the new Trump administration seeking to accomplish its immigration agenda right away, the Baltimore Mayor said the city would not be changing any of its policies.
MASSACHUSETTS
Massachusetts is not a declared sanctuary state, though the Center for Immigration Studies and the Federation for American Immigration Reform count it among the 11 states they identify as sanctuary states based on prior court rulings.
Sanctuary cities
Boston
• Mayor Michelle Wu (Democrat). In office since November 2021.
Boston enacted an ordinance in 2014 that bars the Boston Police Department from detaining anyone based on their immigration status unless they have a criminal warrant. The ordinance was reaffirmed in November 2024. Mayor Wu will likely be asked to appear before Congress.
Other cities, including Cambridge, Chelsea, Somerville, Springfield and Northampton, have similar legislation.
MICHIGAN
Michigan is not a sanctuary state, but it does have a city and several counties that are designated as sanctuary areas, according to the Center for Immigration Studies.
Sanctuary cities
Detroit
• Mayor Mike Dugan (Independent). In office since January 2014.
Detroit has proclaimed itself a ‘Welcoming City’. The city has anti-profiling ordinances that generally prohibit local police from asking about the immigration status of people who are not suspected of any crime.
Ann Arbor
• Mayor Christopher Taylor (Democrat). In office since November 2014.
In January 2025, Ann Arbor Mayor Christopher Taylor said the city has an ordinance to protect immigrants without criminal records from detention. He added that he wanted to make clear that Ann Arbor was not a sanctuary city.
Kalamazoo
• Mayor David Anderson. In office since November 2019.
The city re-affirmed its status as a welcoming city in 2017.
Lansing
• Mayor Andy Schor (Democrat). In office since January 2018.
The city voted to become a sanctuary city in April 2017. It reversed the decision a week later due to public and business opposition. An order by the then-mayor Virg Bernero still prohibits Lansing police officers from asking residents about their immigration status.
MINNESOTA
Sanctuary cities
Minneapolis
• Mayor Jacob Frey (Democrat). In office since January 2018.
The city has an ordinance, adopted in 2003, that directs local law enforcement officers not to 'take any law enforcement action' for the sole purpose of finding illegal immigrants or asking an individual about his or her immigration status. The city reaffirmed its status in March 2017.
MISSISSIPPI
The state has banned sanctuary cities.
MISSOURI
The state has banned sanctuary cities.
MONTANA
The state has banned sanctuary cities.
NEVADA
Sanctuary cities
Las Vegas
• Mayor Rochelle Berkley (Democrat). In office since December 2024
Following President Donald Trump’s second inauguration, Las Vegas Mayor Berkley said that Las Vegas was not a sanctuary city and that the city’s jail facilities were in compliance with federal regulations enforced by Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Mayor Berkley added that she is passionate about finding a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants.
NEW YORK STATE
The state has a pro-sanctuary city law. Unlike New York City, the state does not currently have laws in place that uniformly prohibit collaboration between federal immigration agents and local law enforcement. Nothing on the books expressly prohibits local law enforcement from working with Immigration and Customs Enforcement or Customs and Border Patrol.
Sanctuary cities
Albany
• Mayor Kathy Sheehan (Democrat). In office since January 2014.
Albany is designated as a sanctuary city, meaning it has policies that limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement agencies. However, Mayor Kathy Sheehan said she is not concerned about losing federal funding. “What we're seeing is a lot of political posturing,” Sheehan said in February 2025.
Ithaca
• Mayor Robert Cantelmo (Democrat). In office since January 2024.
Sanctuary City since 2017. Members of the Ithaca Common Council voted in February 2025 to reaffirm the city's status as a sanctuary city. They said that means a pledge to not discriminate and to foster a welcoming environment for everyone. The ordinance highlights a continued commitment to the protection of human rights for immigrants, as well as individuals' reproductive rights and gender-affirming care.
New York City
• Mayor Eric Adams (Democrat. In office since January 2022.
Sanctuary city since 1989. Mayor Eric Adams received a letter from the US Congress indicating that he may be asked to testify before the Committee on Oversight and Government Reforms.
Newburgh
• Mayor Torrance Harvey (Democrat). In office since April 2018.
The city declared itself a sanctuary city in March 2017.
Rochester
• Mayor Malik Evans (Democrat). In office since January 2022.
In 1986, Rochester passed a resolution with a policy to keep undocumented immigrants from being prosecuted. This policy was presented again in February 2017 when the City Council unanimously passed a resolution reaffirming Rochester as a sanctuary city.
Syracuse
• Mayor Ben Walsh (Independent). In office since January 2018.
Syracuse was first declared a ‘sanctuary city’ under former Mayor Stephanie Miner in 2017. Ben Walsh, the city’s current mayor, said in January 2025 that although ‘sanctuary city is a term Syracuse has previously fallen under, it is a phrase he likes to avoid altogether. Walsh added. "The most technical definition applies to how the local jail engages with federal immigration officials. The jail is not within the city's control. So, because of the divisiveness and the confusion around that term, I have avoided using that term and focused on the message that, again, we are a welcoming city."
NEW JERSEY
The state declared itself a sanctuary state in 2018. Among the municipalities which are considered sanctuary cities are Asbury Park, Camden, East Orange, Hoboken, Jersey City, Linden, New Brunswick, Newark, North Bergen, Plainfield, Trenton and Union City.
Sanctuary cities
Newark
• Mayor Ras Baraka (Democrat). In office since July 2014.
Sanctuary city status was confirmed and strengthened in 2017. In January 2025, an establishment in Newark was raided by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Mayor Ras Baraka said in a statement that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents detained multiple people, including United States citizens, a US military veteran and undocumented individuals. According to Baraka, the agents did not produce a warrant.
NEW MEXICO
New Mexico is considered a sanctuary state by some sources and not by others. The state has legally declared that it will not honor an ICE detention request without an accompanying warrant.
NORTH CAROLINA
The state has banned sanctuary cities.
NORTH DAKOTA
The state has banned sanctuary cities.
OHIO
As US President Donald Trump starts his second term, Ohio Republicans are seeking to block local governments from ignoring federal immigration laws by declaring themselves sanctuary cities.
Sanctuary cities
Cincinnati
• Mayor Aftab Pureval (Democrat). In office since January 2022.
Cincinnati declared itself a sanctuary city in 2017. After President Trump’s inauguration in January 2025, Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval confirmed that Cincinnati police would not cooperate with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in the removal of illegal immigrants. The mayor said municipalities had no role in federal immigration enforcement.
Cleveland
• Mayor Justin Bibb (Democrat). In office since January 2022.
Cleveland City Council approved legislation in 1987 naming Cleveland a sanctuary city. The legislation ultimately became a resolution, which lacks the legally enforceable hallmark of a city ordinance.
Columbus
• Mayor Andrew Ginther (Democrat). In office since January 2016
Though Columbus doesn’t call itself a sanctuary city, in many ways, it acts like one. “Rather than identifying as a sanctuary city, we identify as being an open and welcoming city.”
OREGON
A state law passed in 1987 prohibits law enforcement officers at the state, county or municipal level from enforcing federal immigration laws that target people based on their race or ethnic origin when those individuals are not suspected of any criminal activities. Oregon was the first US state to pass a statewide law stopping state and local police and government from helping federal authorities with immigration enforcement. In the ensuing decades, the law was updated several times. An Act passed in 2021 “increases safety and protection measures for immigrant communities through increased support, as well as transparency and accountability regarding government interactions with federal immigration authorities.”
Sanctuary cities
Portland
• Mayor Keith Wilson (Democrat). In office since January 2025.
In 2017, the Portland City Council passed a resolution affirming that Portland is a ‘sanctuary city’, meaning no City funds, staff or equipment can be used to assist with federal immigration enforcement, except to the extent required by law. Sanctuary laws and policies prioritise city and state resources for traditional law enforcement, crime-fighting efforts and other local priorities. Mayor Keith Wilson reaffirmed this commitment in January 2025.
PENNSYLVANIA
There are some 17 sanctuary jurisdictions in the state.
Sanctuary cities
Philadelphia
• Mayor Cherelle Parker (Democrat). In office since January 2024.
Philadelphia’s various sanctuary policies leave the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to its own devices. They also signal to immigrants that the city is not in the business of federal immigration enforcement. This is significant for immigrant communities, as it means they should feel safe to access public benefits and services, such as getting care at a community health centre or calling the police without fear of immigration consequences.
RHODE ISLAND
Rhode Island is not officially a sanctuary state, but over the past ten years, many policies and actions have made it a virtual sanctuary state.
SOUTH CAROLINA
The state has banned sanctuary cities.
TENNESSEE
The state has banned sanctuary cities.
TEXAS
The state has banned sanctuary cities.
VERMONT
Governor Phis Scott has said that Vermont will not be a sanctuary state.
VIRGINIA
In December 2024, Governor Glenn Youngkin said Virginia was not a sanctuary state. He announced a ‘No Sanctuary Cities’ budget proposal to require local law enforcement officers to fully comply with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainers and provide notification to ICE 48 hours before the release of an illegal immigrant who commited a crime. Additionally, funding will be withheld from those localities that purport to be ‘sanctuary’ cities or enact practices impeding cooperation with ICE. “If local governments turn their backs on their citizens to pander to pro-illegal immigrant groups, we will cut off their funding.”
Virginia has cities such as Richmond and Alexandria that have declared themselves to be ‘inclusive’. However, there are no localities in Virginia that are ‘sanctuaries. ’ Virginia cannot have sanctuary cities because the Commonwealth is bound by the Dillon Rule, which means that no locality can have a law that violates state law. In Virginia, everyone who is processed through the criminal justice system has their fingerprints sent to the Department of Homeland Security. Because of this automatic information sharing, no locality can be a ‘sanctuary’.
WASHINGTON (State)
The state has enacted a measure in favour of sanctuary cities, similar to California and Oregon laws, which are among the strongest statewide mandates in the US.
WASHINGTON DC
• Mayor Muriel Bowser (Democrat). In office since January 2015.
Washington, DC, is a sanctuary city. Following the election of Donald Trump to a second presidential term, Mayor Bowser said: “The values, laws, and policies of Washington, DC did not change on Election Day. We celebrate our diversity and respect all DC residents no matter their immigration status. We are a sanctuary city because we know that our neighbourhoods are safer and stronger when no one is afraid to call on our government for help, and when our police can focus on protecting and serving."
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