WASHINGTON, D.C. – (Michigan News Source) – The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is outing those communities that are sanctuary havens and not cooperating with the federal government in terms of immigration policy.
DHS stated in a recent press release: “Sanctuary jurisdictions including cities, counties, and states that are deliberately and shamefully obstructing the enforcement of federal immigration laws endangering American communities. Sanctuary cities protect dangerous criminal aliens from facing consequences and put law enforcement in peril.”
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DHS provided a website that allowed people to search and identify sanctuary communities in their states.
In Michigan, DHS identified the counties of Kalamazoo, Kent, Oakland, Washtenaw, Wayne and Wexford as sanctuary havens as well as two cities: Ann Arbor and East Lansing.
Despite the DHS labeling Wexford County as a sanctuary jurisdiction, local officials have disputed the designation — and an independent tracker, the Center of Immigration Studies, has since removed the county from its list.
The city of Grand Rapids has had a movement among its residents for the city to declare itself as a sanctuary city. In January, the city received a letter with more than 1,800 names attached asking the City Council to declare itself a sanctuary city. But Mayor David LaGrand has said that won’t happen but added the police won’t assist the federal government with immigration.
The police policy states police may work with federal authorities as long as the matter is “unrelated to federal civil immigration enforcement.”
Michigan News Source reached out to DHS for a comment. A spokesperson responded, “Designation of a sanctuary jurisdiction is based on the evaluation of numerous factors, including self-identification as a sanctuary jurisdiction, noncompliance with Federal law enforcement in enforcing immigration laws, restrictions on information sharing, and legal protections for illegal aliens.”
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The spokesperson added, “The list is actively reviewed, will be regularly updated, and can be changed at any time. President Trump and Secretary Noem have been clear: sanctuary jurisdictions should immediately cease violation of Federal law and cooperate with law enforcement.”