Department of Homeland Security List Disappears
The “sanctuary jurisdiction” list from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has been removed from its website. This list, which was made public last Thursday, identified 35 states and parts of the District of Columbia that, according to DHS, “undermines the rule of law and endangers the lives of Americans and law enforcement.” The DHS remarked that they are highlighting politicians who disregard federal law while supposedly supporting individuals in the country illegally.
However, when one attempts to access this list on the DHS website, a message appears saying, “Page not found,” along with a note indicating that the page may have been moved, deleted, or is currently unavailable.
Officials Respond
When asked on Monday about the issue, senior officials from DHS explained that the sanctuary designation considers various factors. These include self-identification as a sanctuary jurisdiction, enforcement of immigration laws, and the sharing—or lack thereof—of information with federal law enforcement. They also referenced violations concerning the legal protection of individuals in the country illegally.
During an interview on Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Future,” Homeland Security Secretary Christie Noem addressed the list’s removal. She indicated that an executive order from the president directs DHS to recognize these sanctuary cities while complicating efforts to track them. “Some cities have been pushed back,” she noted, suggesting that those jurisdictions may not align with the established qualifications.
Noem further stated, “They don’t respect detainees,” and criticized these communities for not informing law enforcement when dangerous individuals are released from court. She confirmed that the list would indeed be used to identify jurisdictions not adhering to law or justice standards.
Local Backlash
Prior to the list’s disappearance, DHS noted that jurisdictions were expected to revise their policies in accordance with federal immigration law. However, local officials in some areas expressed discontent with their inclusion. For instance, in California, the city of Huntington declared itself a “non-operated city,” which runs contrary to federal expectations.
Jim Davell, a manager from Shawano County, Wisconsin, shared his view that being included on this list was likely an error. Interestingly, Shawano County supported Trump in the last election, receiving 67% of the vote. Davell expressed concern about the potential ramifications of such a designation on local governance.
He suggested that the administration’s actions could impact the county’s future votes, turning it into what he referred to as a “second amended sanctuary county” that could restrict gun control measures while also protecting immigrant rights.
