Sanctuary

Senator Hagerty Introduces Groundbreaking Bill to Overhaul D.C. Sanctuary Laws and Enforce Federal Immigration Compliance

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Washington, D.C. — Senator Bill Hagerty of Tennessee unveiled new legislation aimed at transforming the capital’s approach to immigration enforcement. The District of Columbia Federal Immigration Compliance Act seeks to dismantle the existing sanctuary laws in the city and enforce compliance with requests from federal authorities, namely the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). A companion bill has also been introduced in the House of Representatives by Congressman Clay Higgins of Louisiana. Hagerty criticized the current sanctuary policies in place, stating it is untenable for the nation’s capital to … Read more

Federal Judge Rules Against Trump: No Withholding Funds from Sanctuary Cities

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In a significant ruling, a federal judge declared that former President Donald Trump’s administration cannot withhold federal funds from cities that adopt “sanctuary” policies to protect undocumented immigrants. The decision, issued on Tuesday, is a setback to Trump’s broader immigration crackdown which sought to penalize jurisdictions that do not cooperate with federal immigration enforcement. The judge’s ruling emphasizes that the federal government’s powers do not extend to forcing local governments to adopt federal priorities, specifically in matters of immigration enforcement. This stance supports the argument that local jurisdictions have the right to decide their own … Read more

Federal Judge Blocks Trump Administration from Withholding Funds to Sanctuary Cities

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San Francisco, California – A federal judge in California issued a ruling on Thursday that prohibits the Trump administration from withholding federal funds from so-called “sanctuary” cities. This decision reasserts the constitutional challenges faced by executive orders aimed at punishing jurisdictions that limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. Judge William Orrick of San Francisco granted a preliminary injunction against the administration, echoing his similar judgment from 2017. The ruling stemmed from lawsuits filed by San Francisco and over a dozen other cities. These municipalities challenged the legality of several executive orders signed by the Republican … Read more

Denver Judge Weighs Release of Immigrant Activist Detained Despite Church Sanctuary

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DENVER — A federal court in Denver is poised to consider the case of Jeanette Vizguerra, an immigrant and labor organizer who has sought sanctuary in Colorado churches to evade deportation orders that originated during President Donald Trump’s tenure. The hearing set for Friday might determine whether Vizguerra will be released from the immigration detention facility where she has been held since her March 17 arrest by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Vizguerra, a Mexican national who entered the U.S. without authorization in 1997, has been detained pending deportation. ICE has stated that Vizguerra … Read more