The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has removed a controversial listing of over 500 so-called ‘sanctuary jurisdictions’ from its official website. This decision follows backlash over the inclusion of regions that have openly endorsed the strict immigration policies of the Trump administration. Originally released by the department the previous week, the list detailed jurisdictions identified as non-compliant with federal immigration enforcement directives. Additionally, it indicated whether these localities were perceived to violate any federal criminal laws.
The contentious list was initially uploaded to the DHS website this past Thursday. However, an error message indicating ‘Page Not Found’ replaced the list by the following Sunday. This development forms part of the spiraling efforts by the Trump administration to scrutinize communities, states, and jurisdictions accused of insufficiently supporting the administration’s stringent immigration enforcement measures. These measures are tied to the Presidential promise of deporting upwards of 11 million Unauthorized residents from the U.S.
During ‘Sunday Morning Futures’ on Fox News, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem acknowledged the furor the list had sparked among various officials. Despite the palpable discontent, Noem refrained from sharing the precise reasons behind the list’s removal. ‘We’ve seen considerable pushback from some cities,’ said Noem. ‘They’ve argued that they’re ineligible as they lack certain legal stipulations. However, they meet the criteria. They’re providing a safe haven for criminals.’
The unveiled list, which was wrought with numerous typographical errors, was met with resistance from officials located across diverse communities, ranging from urban to rural and politically blue to red. Several officials have contested the logic underpinning the list. Notably, Huntington Beach in California featured on the contentious list, despite its resistance against the state’s sanctuary immigration law. The city even presented a resolution this year designating it as a ‘non-sanctuary city.’
Shawano County, Wisconsin, also found its name on the problematic list, raising doubts over the accuracy of the document. The addition of this community was likely a consequence of administrative error, according to the County’s administrator, Jim Davel. Davel, a Trump-supporter himself, echoed the sentiments of approximately 67% Shawano County residents who voted for Trump.
In Davel’s opinion, it is possible that the inclusion of Shawano County resulted from confusion in the interpretation of the county’s 2021 vote to become a ‘Second Amendment Sanctuary County.’ This designation was purposed to challenge gun control measures, and not to serve as a refuge for immigrants. Davel further clarified that the county hasn’t green-lit any policies that would deem it an immigration sanctuary.