The Trump governance previously filed lawsuits against cities with sanctuary policies, including New York City, denver, and Rochester, New York. In May, the administration also sued four New Jersey cities.
Chicago,a city with a strong democratic leaning,has maintained sanctuary city status for decades. Its laws were strengthened multiple times,including in 2017 during Donald Trump’s first term as president. In the same year, then-Governor Bruce Rauner, a Republican, enacted statewide sanctuary protections, a move that put him at odds with his own party.
There is no universally accepted definition for “sanctuary policies” or “sanctuary cities.” These terms typically refer to local policies that limit cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). ICE is responsible for enforcing federal immigration laws across the country and sometimes requests assistance from state and local authorities.