Sanctuary Cities

A sanctuary city refers to a city (or sometimes a county or state) that has adopted policies limiting cooperation with the federal government's enforcement of immigration law. While there is no legal definition, these policies can include not allowing local police to inquire about an individual's immigration status, or not holding individuals solely on a federal immigration detainer request. The intention behind sanctuary cities is often to foster trust between immigrant communities and local law enforcement, encouraging cooperation in crime prevention and reporting without fear of deportation.