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The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued warnings to over 500 jurisdictions identified as "sanctuary jurisdictions," accusing them of obstructing federal immigration enforcement. This move is part of the Trump administration's strategy to pressure communities it perceives as hindering its mass deportation agenda. DHS published a list of these jurisdictions on its website and announced that each will receive formal notification of their noncompliance and potential violations of federal criminal statutes.

DHS Secretary Kristi Noem stated that sanctuary city policies endanger Americans and law enforcement by protecting violent criminal illegal aliens. This stance echoes the administration's ongoing efforts to coerce cooperation from states and communities in aiding Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to meet President Donald Trump's campaign promise of removing millions of undocumented individuals.

The jurisdictions on this list were identified based on various criteria, including their self-identification as sanctuary jurisdictions, their level of compliance with federal immigration officials, restrictions on sharing information with ICE, and any legal protections provided to undocumented individuals.

Trump's executive order signed on April 28 mandates that the Homeland Security Secretary and the Attorney General regularly update and publish this list. It further directs federal departments and agencies, in collaboration with the Office of Management and Budget, to identify and potentially suspend or terminate federal grants and contracts with these jurisdictions.

Should the identified jurisdictions continue to defy federal immigration laws, the Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security are authorized to take legal actions and enforcement measures to ensure compliance.

Sanctuary jurisdictions are typically those refusing to cooperate with immigration enforcement, although there is no specific legal definition for the term. ICE relies on local law enforcement to notify federal authorities and detain immigrants wanted for deportation. One strategy to gain local support is through 287(g) agreements, which allow local law enforcement to assume some immigration enforcement duties. The number of these agreements has surged under the Trump administration, enhancing ICE's capacity given its roughly 6,000 officers.

Communities often resist cooperation with ICE, arguing that it fosters a safer environment for immigrants to report crimes and stressing that their resources should focus on local crime rather than federal immigration enforcement. Despite pushback in the courts, the Trump administration has remained steadfast in its efforts, issuing executive orders to withhold federal funds from non-cooperative jurisdictions and ensuring that federal payments do not support sanctuary policies.

This latest measure underscores the administration’s continued efforts to enforce its immigration policies while facing resistance from states and communities striving to protect their diverse populations.