Sanctuary Status 9-22-25

There isn't a single, universally accepted list of sanctuary cities in 2025, as different government agencies and organizations use different criteria and methodologies. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) have published lists of "sanctuary jurisdictions" that they claim obstruct federal immigration enforcement, but the American Immigration Council disputes the characterization of such jurisdictions as solely non-compliant with federal law. Key jurisdictions on the DOJ's list of sanctuary jurisdictions include California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Minnesota, and Nevada.  

Why a Definitive List is Difficult

·       Differing Definitions: 

The term "sanctuary city" can refer to a variety of policies at the local level, ranging from explicit laws to informal practices, which are not always clearly defined or consistent. 

·       Divergent Perspectives: 

The DHS and DOJ consider certain jurisdictions to be "sanctuary" for their alleged obstruction of federal immigration laws. In contrast, the American Immigration Council argues that these policies often comply with federal law and that many "sanctuary" localities still cooperate with federal immigration authorities in ways such as sharing fingerprints or honoring warrants, according to its blog post. 

·       Ongoing Developments: 

Government actions, litigation, and local policy changes in response to federal initiatives mean that the landscape of "sanctuary" jurisdictions is constantly evolving. 

Examples of "Sanctuary" Jurisdictions Mentioned in Recent Reports

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Issued a list in May 2025 of cities, counties, and states that the DHS claims are obstructing federal immigration law enforcement. 

Department of Justice (DOJ) Published a list in August 2025 of sanctuary jurisdictions that they are challenging. This list includes: 

·       California 

·       Colorado 

·       Connecticut 

·       Delaware 

·       District of Columbia 

·       Illinois 

·       Minnesota 

·       Nevada 

It's important to review the criteria and sources used by organizations like the American Immigration Council when examining claims about which jurisdictions are "sanctuary" cities or states. 

There is no official or legal definition of a "sanctuary city," and the term can vary in meaning and application. Jurisdictions designated as sanctuaries have policies limiting local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, such as declining to honor detainer requests from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). 

The list below is based on reports published in 2025 by government bodies, including the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), following a presidential executive order. It also includes information from other organizations like the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) and the Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC). 

Sanctuary states and districts

These states and districts have laws or policies that limit local law enforcement's involvement in federal immigration enforcement. 

·       California

·       Colorado

·       Connecticut

·       Delaware

·       District of Columbia

·       Illinois

·       Maryland (partial)

·       Massachusetts (partial)

·       Minnesota

·       Nevada

·       New Jersey (partial)

·       New Mexico (partial)

·       New York

·       Oregon

·       Pennsylvania (partial)

·       Rhode Island

·       Utah (partial)

·       Vermont

·       Washington 

Sanctuary cities and counties

This is a partial list of specific jurisdictions, as many more exist across the country. 

California

·       Berkeley

·       Los Angeles

·       San Diego County

·       San Francisco (City and County)

Colorado

·       Denver 

Illinois

·       Chicago

·       Cook County 

Louisiana

·       New Orleans 

Maryland

·       Baltimore County 

Massachusetts

·       Boston 

Michigan

·       East Lansing 

New Jersey

·       Hoboken

·       Jersey City

·       Newark

·       Paterson

New Mexico

·       Albuquerque 

New York

·       New York City

·       Rochester

Oregon

·       Portland 

Pennsylvania

·       Philadelphia 

Washington

·       Seattle 

https://www.google.com/search?q=List+sanctuary+cities+by+state+today+2025

Comments

It is likely that the Supreme Court will side with Federal Supremacy on the Sanctuary problem.

Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader