What is a Sanctuary City?



Americans are hearing a lot about “Sanctuary Cities” these days. But just what is meant by the term “Sanctuary Cities”?

For many people, the term conjures up an amnesty for illegal immigrants.  Or policies that promote illegal immigration.

The fact is, proponents of Sanctuary Cities want both.  Think of Sanctuary Cities as stepping stones to a larger agenda.

Sanctuary Cities are really jurisdictions that resist cooperating with federal immigration authorities.  They fancy themselves political allies of lawbreakers, and their policies discourage local officials from checking immigration status with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or honoring “hold requests” made by federal officials when they want to pick up someone for removal proceedings. The result?  Sanctuary Cities or “no-cooperation” cities mean criminal aliens go free even after contact with local enforcement officials.

President Donald Trump wants to end Sanctuary Cities and get all local jurisdictions to cooperate with DHS to discourage illegal immigration.  Other components of the Trump plan include an expansion of the “everify” program – also known as E-Verify” – in order to ensure only those authorized to work get American jobs, and the Trump Wall. The Trump Wall would place a needed physical barrier at key points along the border to restore law and order to our long border with Mexico.  And this is only the beginning of Trump’s plan.

The Everify program would help ensure employers must do a work eligibility check whenever anyone is hired for a job. Everify is a pilot program that everyone agrees needs to be expanded nationally. Let’s work together to make it happen in 2017.

About Author

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Dan is the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR)'s President after joining the organization in 1982. He has testified more than 50 times before Congress, and been cited in the media as "America's best-known immigration reformer." Dan has appeared on virtually every significant TV and radio news/talk program in America and, in addition to being a contributing editor to ImmigrationReform.com, has contributed commentaries to a vast number of print media outlets.

7 Comments

  1. avatar
    Joanne Sgrignoli on

    I can’t fathom our own citizens, especially local elected officials: 1) putting other citizens in harm’s way; 2) blatantly thumbing their nose at federal agencies; and 3) getting away with both.

    Isn’t there an oath of office that they’ve sworn to comply with? Isn’t there a federal statute that they’re violating? I find it frustrating that so much time, energy & money is wasted when people ‘opt-out of doing what’s right.

    “The only thing necessary for the success of evil is that good men do nothing.” ~ Edmund Burke

    • avatar
      Joanne Sgrignoli on

      I forgot to comment on e-verify: It should be MANDATORY. When I worked for the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in the early – mid-90s part of my job entailed hiring proctors for professional licensing examinations. I believe that one of the forms required was an I-9 to confirm that they were a citizen, in order to hirev them. There were specific forms of ID required. Why is this not being done?

  2. avatar
    Richard Dawson on

    I think the elected “officals” in these Sanctuary Citys should set a positive example for American’s,
    This does not INCLUDE BREAKING FEDERAL LAW, PROVIDING LAWYERS FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS, AND ALLOWING CRIMINALS TO RUNFREELY
    And NOT WASTING TAX PAYERS MONEY ON PEOPLE, WHO HAVE OR WILL NOT FILL OUT THE PAPERS TO BECOME LEGAL CITIZEN’S OF THE UNITED STATES.

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  4. avatar

    My wife has to use E-Verify on all new hires. This is a small (less than 50 employees)company. Who is exempt from using E-Verify ?
    Why is illegal entry considered a misdemeanor and not a criminal act ?