UPDATED: Local Leaders Across 30 States Speak Out On Protecting Undocumented Immigrant Communities

UPDATED 2/1/2017.

Local leaders from 30 states and Washington, DC have now affirmed or are reaffirming commitments to help protect immigrant residents of their communities from Donald Trump’s destructive deportation proposals.

Among the leaders from the states are mayors, police chiefs, faith leaders, the heads of large universities and private institutions, and include some of the most populous and diverse cities in the nation.

Below is a running list of statements from these leaders, which we will continue to update as more continue to speak out in defense of their communities.

Arizona

Arizona State University:

• Arizona State University President Michael Crow has joined other college presidents in voicing support for the Obama administration’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program… “I want to emphasize that Arizona State University’s commitment to DACA students and to all DREAMers remains unchanged.”

Phoenix:

• “‘The Phoenix Police Department will never turn into a mass deportation force, even if the new government in Washington, D.C., threatens to revoke federal dollars,’ [Mayor Greg] Stanton said in a statement. ‘This is something worth fighting for, and we will not be bullied into taking backward steps on civil rights.’”

Tucson:

• “Tucson’s police chief [Chris Magnus] said Thursday that he won’t change police policies on immigration enforcement…’ It is important our residents understand that the policies and practices put in place over the past decade to direct and clarify how our officers interact with undocumented persons and handle immigration enforcement issues are not changing.’”

California

Statewide legislation and actions:

• The California Values Act “will make it clear California public schools, hospitals, and courthouses will not be used by the Trump regime to deport our families, friends, neighbors, classmates and co-workers,” said Assemblyman Marc Levine (D), the bill’s chief sponsor in the lower chamber.
• Incoming state Attorney General Xavier Becerra said” “We’re not interested in having folks try to stop us. We’ll look at the Constitution of the United States, and we’ll look at our California constitution and recognize that as any other states, we will do whatever the U.S. Constitution allows us to do to protect our people and advance our interests.”

American Canyon:

• “Mayor Leon Garcia said he supports researching the pros and cons of becoming a sanctuary city. The mayor said it was important, regardless of whether American Canyon becomes a sanctuary city, that people should know ‘we are a supportive community and take care of each other.’”

Berkeley:

• “[Mayor-elect] Arreguin reiterated his commitment to Berkeley’s status as a sanctuary city for undocumented immigrants, despite Trump’s calls to cut funding from cities refusing to comply with federal immigration authorities.”

Davis:

• “‘Davis has been a sanctuary city since 1986. 30 years as a sanctuary city. That is something to celebrate. […] I can tell you, without a doubt, that this current city council is going to continue to uphold that standing as a sanctuary city for anyone who needs to be here and wants to be here,’ [City Council member Lucas] Frerichs said.”

Fresno:

• “Fresno City Councilman Oliver Baines spoke directly to immigrant residents in light of the presidential election: ‘We are standing with you.’”
• “[Police] Chief Jerry Dyer said in a statement that being undocumented does not give officers the right to contact, detain or arrest a person. ‘Officers are not interested in a person’s immigration status, but only whether they are involved in criminal activity,’ he said.”

Lompoc:

• “Lompoc Police Chief Pat Walsh has received concerns regarding immigration enforcement, and wants the community to know he has no intention of changing the department’s current practices as it pertains to immigration. Lompoc police understand they serve all of our community, regardless of immigration status.”

Long Beach:

• “[Mayor Robert] Garcia said he wants to focus on areas of agreement with the incoming administration… ‘We’ve always been at the leading edge of civil rights,’ Garcia said, ‘including rights for the LGBT and the disabled, and that’s not going to change, no matter what.’”

Los Angeles:

• “‘We’re going to maintain the same posture we always have,’ LAPD Chief Charlie Beck told CBS Los Angeles… ‘We are not going to engage in law enforcement activities solely based on somebody’s immigration status. We are not going to work in conjunction with Homeland Security on deportation efforts. That is not our job, nor will I make it our job.’”
• “‘We comply with federal immigration agencies, but insist that detainer requests be handled constitutionally… ‘It is Mayor Garcetti’s sincere hope that no president would violate those principles, the very foundation of our nation, by taking punitive action on cities that are simply protecting the well-being of residents.’” –Spokeswoman for Mayor Garcetti Connie Llanos
• LA County Sheriff: “Here in Los Angeles County, Sheriff Jim McDonnell says his department’s relationship with Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will remain status quo.”
• The LA Unified School “district has started a support hotline and opened extended support sites, which was detailed in a recorded call — in English and Spanish — to teachers and parents from Superintendent Michelle King. She said students could get ‘emotional support’ for any concerns they have about the impact on their families of potential Trump-ordered anti-immigration actions. The district has also provided a list of resources for educators and parents who want to talk to young people about these issues.”
• Los Angeles will launch a $10 million legal defense fund for immigrants facing deportation, official announced. The fund will cover legal counsel for residents who may face deportation under President-elect Donald Trump, who has promised to crack down on illegal immigration.“People who have built their lives in America have rights, and they deserve all the protections that our legal system provides,” said Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti (D) in a statement.

Marin:

• “Marin County Sheriff Robert Doyle said, ‘Not only is it not our job, we don’t have the authority to enforce immigration laws.’”

Oakland:

• “In Oakland, California, Mayor Libby Schaaf says she is proud to run a sanctuary city, and is planning to recruit even more towns for the movement. ‘The best defense is offense,’ she said. ‘There is strength in numbers.’”

Oxnard:

• “[Oxnard Police chief Scott] Whitney told the audience it is not the job of a local police department to enforce federal immigration laws. Oxnard police officers do not ask people they stop for immigration documents, and that approach will continue under Trump as president, he said. People need to feel they can trust the police, and enforcing immigration laws would undermine that, he said.”

Riverside:

• “Riverside police Chief Sergio Diaz assured immigrants his agency would not be involved in any potential mass deportations in the wake of Republican Donald Trump’s presidential election.”

Sacramento:

• “‘We are going to make it very clear that Sacramento will continue to be a sanctuary city,”’ – Sacramento Mayor-elect Darrell Steinberg
• “Police Chief Robert Luna, in an interview, said law enforcement will continue to follow California’s Trust Act, which prevents police from keeping someone in custody on the basis of a federal immigration hold unless that person has also been convicted of violent felonies or other crimes outlined in the law.
• The Sacramento City Unified School District is voting on a resolution which could turn its schools into safe havens. The resolution aims to make every school within the district a safe haven for immigrant and ethnically diverse students: “That means we will not share data that identifies immigration status, also that we will do professional development with our teachers, principals and our school staff so they can help end hate rhetoric and promote an environment of tolerance.”
• Senator Kamala Harris: “I feel very strongly that California’s voice must be a voice of leadership in Washington, D.C., on all the issues that we discussed. We have an outsized stake in the outcome of the conversation about immigrants … and I feel very strongly that we must defend all people.”

San Diego:

• “When it comes to suspects in custody, Chief Shelley Zimmerman said in a statement ‘the primary responsibility for the enforcement of Federal immigration laws rests with the United States Customs and Border Protection Services.’”

San Francisco:

• “‘San Francisco will never be anything other than a sanctuary city.’” – Mayor Ed Lee
• SF Police Department: “San Francisco has been a sanctuary city under Mayor Lee, as well as under previous mayors, and we will continue to be a sanctuary city moving forward.”

San Jose:

• “The police chiefs of most major U.S. cities — including our own — agree that local police should not involve themselves in federal immigration enforcement” – Mayor Liccardo

San Rafael:

• “‘It is not the job of the San Rafael Police Department to enforce immigration laws. We do not inquire as to the immigration status of those we contact.’”- San Rafael Police Chief Diana Bishop

Santa Ana:

• “Santa Ana City Council majority threw down the gauntlet to both President-elect Donald Trump and the city’s police officers union… members declared their heavily immigrant community a ‘sanctuary city’ that will refuse to cooperate with deportations.”

Santa Barbara:

• “[Police] Chief Lori Luhnow says officers don’t, and won’t, make arrests based solely on an individual’s immigration status.”

Santa Clara County:

• “The Board of Supervisors will consider Dec. 6, Santa Clara County would partner with the city of San Jose and nonprofit groups to provide immigrants with legal services, such as preparing documents and representing them in court. ‘We will do everything we can to make sure our residents know their rights and have access to legal services to protect them from unjust deportation,’ board President Dave Cortese said. ‘The county has long strived to be a place where immigrants can live without fear of being uprooted from their homes. That doesn’t go away with a new administration.’”

Santa Cruz:

• “[Mayor Felipe] Hernandez said he, too, would like to take a stand to keep Watsonville designated as a sanctuary city with a wait-and-see approach to Trump’s plans. If need be, he said, the city’s resolutions could be modified to remove the term ‘sanctuary’ while still offering protections, as other cities have done.”

Silicon Valley Leaders:

• A group of engineers, designers, and tech executives pledged that they would never participate in mass data collection that targets people based on race or religion. “We refuse to build a database of people based on their constitutionally-protected religious beliefs. We refuse to facilitate mass deportations of people the government believes to be undesirable,” the group wrote.

Sonoma County:

• “Sheriff Steve Freitas says his department is not going to make any moves to enforce current immigration laws.”

State Senate Leader:

• “‘State leaders will defend your due process rights and aggressively avail ourselves of any and all tools to prevent an unconscionable over-reach by a Trump administration in California,’ Senate Leader Kevin de León said.”

University of California Schools:

• “A proposal by [Lt. Governor} Newsom and students asks college officials to affirm campuses as ‘sanctuary campuses’ look at how to protect student data from federal government abuse”
• “UC President Janet Napolitano announced on Nov. 15 her plan to establish a ‘Working Group in Support of Undocumented Students at the University of California.’”
• In her statement, Napolitano said the University of California “will vigorously protect the privacy and civil rights of the undocumented members of the UC community and will direct its police departments not to undertake joint efforts with any government agencies to enforce federal immigration law.”

Ventura County:

• “‘We’ve been policing in this community for over a hundred years, and we can’t change our stance on how we provide community policing with each presidential election because that trust takes decades to build,’ [Oxnard Police Chief Scott] Whitney said. He said officers don’t ask people about their immigration status, and that’s not going to change.”

Woodland:

• “[Vice Mayor Angel] Barajas says the city firmly stands with undocumented immigrants in Woodland, who he says contribute tremendously to the city and county.”

Colorado

Aurora:

• “’Since the election, many questions have been raised about Aurora Police Department’s current non-enforcement policy on immigration,” [Police Chief] Metz said in a statement. ‘Specifically, people are asking if we intend to change our policy. The simple answer is: No.’”

Colorado Springs:

• Spokesman Howard Black for CSPD stated, “Colorado Springs Police will not seek out, detain or investigate individuals on the sole basis of their immigration status, but those charged with a crime are reported to immigration officials.”

Denver:

• “’Immigration enforcement is handled at the federal level, not by local law enforcement,’ a statement issued by Denver Police spokesman Doug Schepman said. ‘The Denver Police Department has not participated in those enforcement efforts in the past and will not be involved in the future.’”  
• “‘Our police officers are not ICE agents,’ [Mayor] Hancock said. ‘We’re not going to unlawfully detain people in our facilities that we don’t have a warrant to hold them any longer.’”

Northglenn:

• “Northglenn on Monday joined Aurora and Denver in declaring that its police force will not enforce federal immigration laws against those who haven’t ‘committed criminal acts.’ The policy statement came during a City Council meeting Monday night and was passed as a resolution unanimously.”

Connecticut

Governor of Connecticut:

• “We are a nation of immigrants and, here in Connecticut, we celebrate the value immigrant families bring to our communities and the contributions they make to our economy,” [Gov. Dannel Malloy spokesperson Meg] Green said in a statement. “(Malloy) does not and will not support deporting our residents to areas where they aren’t going to be safe.”

Hartford, Connecticut:

• Mayor Luke Bronin: “Hartford is a city where we are not gonna use our local police force as a frontline immigration enforcement agency. And so, our police force is not going to ask a crime victim or a witness of crime about their immigration status. And we’re not going to detain people solely based on their immigration status. That’s not the role or responsibility of local law enforcement. And it’s not the way to keep a community strong or safe.”

New Haven:

• “Mayor Toni Harp has instructed the city’s top lawyer to prepare a legal challenge in case the incoming Trump administration seeks to punish New Haven for being a ‘sanctuary city.’”
• New Haven community leader Kica Matos: “The bull’s-eye is on us. We cannot let President-elect Trump come into our cities. We have to do everything we can to protect ourselves and to protect our communities, especially our immigrant communities.”

University of Connecticut:

• “The UConn undergraduate Student Government overwhelmingly voted in favor of making UConn a sanctuary campus… Student Government President Dan Byrd co-authored the bill, and says the next step is gaining more student support and meeting with administrators, according to the Daily Campus, the school’s student newspaper.”
• University of Connecticut President Susan Herbst told the university community in an email Tuesday campus police won’t question immigration status or detain anyone based on administrative warrants from federal officials.

District of Columbia

Washington D.C.:

• Mayor Muriel Bowser stated, “We are a sanctuary city because we know that our neighborhoods are safer and stronger when no one is afraid to call on our government for help, and when our police can focus on protecting and serving.”

Georgia

Atlanta:

• “’I’m not prepared to make a judgment about us being a sanctuary city, but we are going to be a welcoming city and we’re going to continue all of our outreach efforts to foreign-born individuals,’ [Mayor Kasim] Reed said. ‘The priority is keeping the people of Atlanta safe and not executing federal mandates related to immigration.’”

Idaho

Boise:

Illinois

Chicago:

• “Chicago is pledging to remain a sanctuary city for undocumented immigrants”- Mayor Emanuel
• Mayor Rahm Emanuel of Chicago personally delivered a letter to President-elect Donald Trump asking him to leave one of President Barack Obama’s programs in place that shields certain immigrants from deportation. “Ending DACA would disrupt the lives of close to one million young people, and it would disrupt the sectors of the American economy, as well as our national security and public safety, to which they contribute,” Emanuel wrote. He continued: “We encourage your administration to demonstrate your commitment to the American economy and our security by continuing DACA until Congress modernizes our immigration system and provides a more permanent form of relief for these individuals.”

Evanston:

• “Evanston Mayor Elizabeth Tisdahl Monday night reaffirmed the city’s policy of being welcoming to immigrants, citing a resolution the City Council passed amid heated debate over eight years ago.”

Urbana:

• “Mayor Laurel Prussing agreed that the issue [of becoming a sanctuary city] should be discussed and mentioned previous city legislation that allows for refugee protection.”

Indiana

• “Indiana university presidents recently signed a joint statement affirming their continued support for the DACA program. ‘This is both a moral imperative and a national necessity,’ the letter stated, as published in the Pomona College website. The university leaders recognize undocumented students as active contributors who have done well in school and are ‘already part of our national community.’ They are also calling on other schools, as well as civic and business leaders, to uphold the DACA.

Iowa

Storm Lake:

• “Storm Lake Police Chief Mark Prosser reassured the gathering that its responsibility to protect all of those who call Storm home will not change. ‘It is not our intent no matter what happens to get involved in deportation,’ he said.””
• Storm Lake Police Chief Mark Prosser: “We need the assistance of all residents to be eyes and ears, so we have to establish their trust. I don’t believe its’ the part of local law enforcement to enforce immigration laws, or to put residents in fear. The message we have is apolitical, that we’re trying to create relationships.”

Kansas

Garden City:

• “‘If we arrest someone for a crime, and if Homeland Security determines that the individual is undocumented or in the country illegally because of administrative purposes, that is a Homeland Security issue, that’s not our issue,’ said Garden City Police Chief Michael Utz. ‘The only time it would become a law enforcement issue is if we have someone who has committed a felony or a severe violent act that meets the criteria that they are in the country illegally. At that point, they may become a criminal alien, which would be a violation of federal law.’”

Louisiana

New Orleans:

• NOPD cites “policy, which limits police cooperation with federal immigration authorities and stems in part from the consent decree between the NOPD and the Department of Justice, is aimed at decreasing discriminatory policing and improving relations between officers and the Hispanic community.”

Maryland

Baltimore:

• “Baltimore’s mayor [Stephanie Rawlings-Blake] said city police will not check the citizenship status of people with whom they interact.”

Tacoma Park:

• “‘We have no interest or authority in the deportation of immigrants,’ [Tacoma Park Police] Chief Goldberg wrote. ‘The mission and commitment of the Takoma Park Police Department is the safety and welfare of all our residents and visitors.’”

University of Maryland:

• “Freeman Hrabowski, president of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, told students and faculty that he’s working to understand options under state and federal law to make the school a sanctuary campus for undocumented students.”

Massachusetts

Boston:

• Mayor Walsh stated, “We are a welcoming city for all. These are Boston values and no policy will change them.”
• The Trust Act was unanimously passed by the City Council and signed by Mayor Martin Walsh in 2014. “There are no exceptions to this rule,” said Mission Hill City Councilor Josh Zakim in a statement. “In Boston we value and respect our city’s immigrant communities and the Trust Act is a statement of those values, providing sanctuary from the type of immoral and illegal federal overreach that President-elect Trump has promised throughout his tawdry campaign.”

Cambridge:

• “’The City of Cambridge has been a Sanctuary City since April 1985, when the City Council first took steps to protect and support refugees fleeing from political violence and human rights violations in El Salvador, Guatemala and Haiti,” said Cambridge Mayor E. Denise Simmons. ‘In 1999, the City Council expanded that support to all residents, regardless of immigration status, and has regularly reaffirmed that over the last 20 years. Today, the City of Cambridge remains just as committed to all of our residents as we have been over the past 31 years.’”

Chelsea:

• “‘Local police departments do not have the authority to enforce civil immigration law,’ said Chelsea Chief Brian Kyes. ‘We just don’t.’”

Lawrence:

• “While Lawrence is not a full-fledged sanctuary city, ‘we will always be a welcoming city,’ [Mayor Dan] Rivera said. ‘We will always stand with the immigrant community.’”

Salem:

• “Ward 4 City Councillor David Eppley announced the filing of a draft ordinance entitled the ‘Salem Sanctuary For Peace Ordinance,’ which is set to be heard during City Council’s Dec. 8 meeting… ‘We currently have nothing on the books prohibiting our city employees from providing information to the federal government for immigration enforcement efforts,’ Eppley added. ‘The Salem Sanctuary for Peace Ordinance addresses that void.’”

Sommerville:

• “Somerville has been a sanctuary city since 1987. And Somerville will remain a sanctuary city.”- Open letter from Mayor Joseph Curtatone

University of Massachusetts, Amherst:

• “In a written statement given to several hundred UMass Amherst students on Friday, Chancellor Kumble Subbaswamy welcomed the sentiments of the students seeking support for members of their campus community who may be vulnerable in the wake of a dramatic change in federal immigration policies… The chancellor said the state institution is ‘bound to comply with state and federal law’ and added that ‘enforcement of federal immigration policy is not within our remit.’”

Michigan

University of Michigan:

• “U-M students recently started a petition calling on President Mark Schlissel and Provost Martha Pollack to restrict campus police from inquiring about immigration status… The petition has received more than 2,200 online signatures from current students and U-M graduates.”
• “U of M spokesman Rick Fitzgerald said [President] Schlissel signed the letter [calling for DACA program support on University Campuses] because the ‘university believes in supporting those undocumented students who may be on our campus.’”

Minnesota

Minneapolis:

• Mayor Betsy Hodges issued statement: “’I will continue to stand by immigrants in Minneapolis. For years, Minneapolis has codified in ordinance that our police officers will not do the work of the Federal government and ICE regarding immigration status.’”

Northfield:

• “The sanctuary ordinances generally ensure that local law enforcement will not take it upon itself to enforce federal immigration laws, and officers will not ask community members for their documentation. Northfield Police Chief Monte Nelson said his force doesn’t do that anyway. Northfield Police Chief Monte Nelson said his force doesn’t do that anyway. ‘We take pride in the fact that we work well with all agencies, but we are not agents of any federal agency,’ he said.”

Richfield:

• “At its next meeting, the council plans to consider a resolution ‘that communicates our value of inclusion in Richfield and stands up against some of the hate that folks are feeling,’ [City Councilmember Michael] Howard announced.”
• “‘Richfield is an inclusionary city, it always has been.’” – Mayor Debbie Goettel

St. Paul:

• “We want everyone to call the police when they are the victim of or witness to a crime without fear they will be asked about their immigration status. We want everyone to call the paramedics in a medical emergency, enroll their children in after-school programs or use our library services. Our staff — including our police officers — will not ask for proof of immigration status. Period” – Mayor Chris Coleman Op-Ed

University of Minnesota:

• “University of Minnesota President Eric Kaler has responded to a petition urging a sanctuary campus by promising that illegal immigrants will be able to continue their studies uninterrupted… ‘I want to assure you that the University’s senior leadership team and I are firmly committed to the safety of all of our students, including immigrants and undocumented students,’”

Nevada

Southern Nevada:

• In a letter to Southern Nevada school officials, the Rogers Foundation is asking them to declare their campuses sanctuaries for undocumented students, staff and their family members who may face deportation. “Our students, now more than ever, deserve the basic American right to not live in fear,” the letter concluded.

New Jersey

Camden:

• “Others suggested they were unlikely to change their policies. ‘For us, according to what the court has said, this is settled law,’ said Dan Keashen, spokesman for Camden County, which honors federal ICE detainer requests only if a warrant or court order also is submitted.”
• “In Camden – which doesn’t describe itself as a ‘sanctuary city’ – county Police Chief Scott Thomson has said that targeting undocumented immigrants would be ‘completely counterintuitive to what we’re trying to do here.’”

Jersey City:

• “[Mayor] Fulop: despite Trump, Jersey City remains ‘welcoming’ to immigrants.”

Maplewood:

• “Maplewood officials say they will consider designating the town as a “Sanctuary Community” or a “safe haven” for such immigrants.”

Newark:

• “Mayor Ras Baraka says despite the outcome of the recent presidential election, the city will continue to protect its undocumented immigrants from being deported.”

Perth Amboy:

• “‘It is my duty to do my best to protect our undocumented residents,’ said Diaz, the state’s first Latina mayor, who spoke at a news conference outside city hall. She was joined by city officials, members of the city’s police department, and representatives of the New Jersey Urban Mayors Association (NJUMA).”

Rutgers University:

• “Hours after students and faculty members circulated a petition to make Rutgers a ‘sanctuary campus,’ President Robert Barchi said the school will protect the privacy of undocumented immigrants attending the university.”

New Mexico

Santa Fe:

• “‘We proudly stand by our policy of human rights for all immigrants,’ [Mayor] Gonzales said in a statement. ‘It has benefited our people, made us a safer, more cooperative community, and strengthened our economy, and we have no intention to reverse course or be bullied into abandoning our values.’”

University of New Mexico:

• University provost, Chaouki Abdallah: “No one should be made to feel unwelcome or unsafe because of who they are, what they think or how they vote.”

New York

Albany:

• Approximately 50 affiliates of the New Sanctuary for Immigrants of the Capital Region rallied Monday before the Albany Common Council‘s meeting on immigrants’ rights. The council on Monday affirmed a 2009 resolution calling for Albany officials to refrain from “unnecessary measures concerning an individual’s immigration status.” Because the resolution is not an ordinance, it has no legal standing.

Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown:

• “‘We are hopeful that the new presidential administration will continue the process in the United States of being welcoming to immigrants and refugees,’ said Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown. ‘We are very proud of being an open and welcoming community,’ said Brown.”

Rep. Nydia Velazquez:

• “We will fight any ill-conceived, mean spirited federal law that goes against immigrants in this country.”

Governor Andrew Cuomo:

• “We don’t allow a federal government that attacks immigrants to do so in our state.”
• Twitter post: 11-12-16 “I am ordering the State Police to put together a special unit to address the explosion of hate crimes in our state.”

New York City Council:

• City Council passed a resolution today reaffirming its commitment to keeping the five boroughs a safe haven for all people, regardless of their legal status—”despite President-elect Donald Trump‘s senseless threats” to deport up to 3 million undocumented immigrants he claims are criminals. “Anti-immigration rhetoric from the president-elect has many in the city’s immigrant communities fearful,” the speaker said at a press conference before the Council’s stated meeting today. “This resolution reaffirms that our policies and laws we’ve implemented in this city will continue and we will continue to support and provide sanctuary for our immigrant communities.”
• New York Immigration Coalition, City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito vowed to fight. “This battle is just beginning,” she said. “We are going to have to be out on the streets insistently to push back against what they’re attempting to do.”

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio:

• “Mayor de Blasio vowed to resist Donald Trump if he tries to go after New York’s undocumented immigrants, health care or reproductive rights.”

University at Buffalo, NY:

• “UB President Tripathi does not have the authority to declare a sanctuary, SUNY would make that call. However in a statement Tripathi said he signed a statement that protects the privacy rights of students.”

North Carolina

Durham:

• A Letter to the People of the City of Durham from the Durham City Council: “The city of Durham will always stand strong to protect the safety of the people of this city and to defend our progressive values – whatever the character of the president of the United States, and whatever the policies he or she may choose to pursue… The Duham City Council… commits to pursuing a policy agenda that affirms civil and human rights, and ensures that those targeted on the basis of race, religion or immigration status can turn to government without fear of recrimination.”

Ft. Bragg:

• “‘Our policy in regards to immigration is pretty clear. We do not actively guide our officers towards enforcing any kind of immigration laws as far as determining someone’s status. Our goal is responding to the needs of the community. We want them to call us. Our officers are more than willing to respond and give whatever assistance is necessary. We’re not asking people if they’re here legally or illegally.’” – Police Chief Fabian Lizarraga

Ohio

Cleveland:

• “’We’re not an arm of the immigration authorities. We don’t detain someone because they’re an immigrant.  Neither do we question them as to their immigration status,’” – Mayor Frank Jackson
• Cleveland councilman Zach Reed says Cleveland police should get involved in bringing immigrants to justice only if they’ve committed violent crimes. Otherwise, he says enforcement should be left to federal authorities. “We should not be like a Nazi force.  We should not be like the Gestapo. We should not be knocking on peoples doors.”

Oberlin:

• “A 2009 Oberlin Resolution guaranteed that ‘no city services shall be denied on the bases of citizenship,’ including police and fire protection. ‘Nobody should be afraid to call the police department when they need help, regardless of their immigration status,’ Lt. McClosky said.

Oregon

Ashland:

• “Mayor John Stromberg, city Attorney Dave Lohman and police Chief Tighe O’Meara all responded that Ashland acts as a sanctuary city now and it has no intention of changing that.”

Eugene:

• “’Somehow, people have this fear that (local) police are going to jump on the bandwagon and help enforce immigration law,’ Lane County Sheriff Byron Trapp said. ‘But it’s really a nonissue. There are no changes at the local level.’”

Oregon State University:

• “President Ed Ray joined a nationwide effort by officially declaring Oregon State University as a sanctuary university. Ray and the OSU administration vowed to protect information regarding students’ background and immigration status.”

Portland:

• “Portland Mayor-elect Ted Wheeler announced Tuesday that Portland will remain a sanctuary city, regardless of the consequences.”

Portland Schools:

• “Donald Trump’s victory won’t allow immigration officials to rifle through student records and barge into classrooms, the Portland School Board voted unanimously on Thursday… ‘Regardless of what anyone says, whether it’s someone in the streets, at work or in our oval office we will look out for each other,’ said school board member Julie Esparza Brown.”

Washington County:

• “‘Our business is not about enforcing federal immigration law, nor is it in any way about where you came from. Police officers, deputy sheriffs, state troopers have no role in federal immigration,’ said [Sheriff Pat] Garrett

Pennsylvania

Philadelphia:

• “Philadelphia remains a ‘sanctuary city’ despite a threat to its future status from President-elect Donald Trump, Mayor Kenney said Thursday.”
• “I am hopeful, but cautious,” Kenney said. “I want everyone to understand that cities, including Philadelphia, have been the bastion of protection for minorities, LGBT people, for immigrants, and we’re not walking this back.” Kenney said the city would cooperate with the next president in “anything that is positive.” “But we are not walking back on civil rights, we’re not walking back on minority rights, we’re not walking back on LGBT rights, we’re not walking back on sanctuary city, we’re not walking back on anything we’ve established to make our city progressive,” Kenney said to loud applause from the group of more than 100. “Whatever comes, we will deal with it, and we will deal with it in a positive way,” he said.

Pittsburgh:

• “’The Pittsburgh Bureau of Police practice is to honor requests from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to detain those wanted in criminal investigations, but to refrain from working as immigration officers,’ said Timothy McNulty, spokesperson for Mayor Bill Peduto. ‘In other words, the PBP does not engage in investigatory detention of individuals based on their immigration status.’ A source within the city government, who asked to remain anonymous, said City Council members are looking into formalizing such a policy.”

Rhode Island

Providence:

• “Mayor Jorge Elorza is pledging to help protect those living in the country illegally from deportation under President-elect Donald Trump’s administration.

Tennessee

Nashville:

• “Mayor Megan Barry says she believes that local police forces shouldn’t be used to carry out federal immigration policy. ‘I do not believe local resources should be used to enforce federal immigration administrative polices,’ Barry said in a statement.”

Texas

Austin:

• “Austin Mayor Steve Adler and Council Member Greg Casar said they would fight to protect undocumented residents in the city at a rally Sunday protesting Donald Trump’s immigration policies….’In Austin, Texas, we build bridges and not walls,’ Adler said. ‘Nothing that happened this week changes who we are as a community, our values or our culture.’”
• “Austin’s newly elected sheriff, Sally Hernandez, has vowed to turn the city into Texas’ first ‘true’ sanctuary city.”
• Austin Council members directed the city manager to find emergency funds for immigrants’ legal fees. The item is a response to the expectation that the incoming federal administration will take a much harsher stance on illegal immigration. President-elect Trump, for example, has said he will abolish President Barack Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. “We would be looking for funding to help people be able to access their legal rights that they already have,” said Council Member Greg Casar, who sponsored the item. “We know that this city is already very unaffordable, and being able to access a lawyer so that you can have access to your basic legal rights is too difficult for many people.”

Dallas:

• “I’ve said I’m thankful for the Hispanic population many, many, many times,” [Mayor Mike] Rawlings said. “And to know what they’ve been through lately, it’s kind of tough, and I just wanted to give them a pat on the back and say we’re with you.”
• Mayor Rawlings tweet 11-24-16 “I’m thankful for the Latino families of Dallas. We’ve got your back.”

El Paso:

• El Paso Police Department: “We enforce Texas Penal Code laws and have no authority or training to enforce immigration laws. Additionally, our resources are stretched far and thin. Taking on any extra tasks just isn’t feasible.”
• “‘We have spent a lot of resources and time building up the trust between the community and law enforcement,’ [Sheriff Richard] Wiles said. ‘We want people to step forward when they are the victim of a crime or a witness to a crime without regard to their immigration status or their concern that law enforcement is going to be looking into it when they respond to these scenes.’”

Houston:

• “Harris County Sheriff-elect Ed Gonzalez wants to eliminate the 287(g) program, by which the Sheriff’s Office alerts immigration authorities when they have undocumented immigrants in the county jail.”
• “On any given day, you can literally travel the globe right here in the city of Houston,” said Mayor Sylvester Turner. Turner said he created the Office of New Americans to serve as a resource for immigrants and refugees and help them feel more comfortable when they relocate to Houston. “The city that existed prior to the election is the same city that exists today,” Turner said. “I, along with mayors from other major U.S. cities, sent a letter to President-elect (Donald) Trump, asking the incoming administration to support the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.” Houston Independent School District Superintendent Richard Carranza said everyone should feel secure while attending the city’s schools.

Texas A&M:

• “An online effort is gaining signatures asking to make A&M a sanctuary campus. Among the requests to school leaders: asking them to not comply with deportations or raids, and refusing to release the immigration statuses of students and staff.”

University of Texas Rio Grande Valley:

• “‘We are asking for assurance that campus police will not question anyone’s religious affiliation or immigration status, nor allow ICE to question anyone’s immigration status,’ states the petition, which as of Saturday gathered nearly 1,500 signatures… On Friday, UTRGV President Guy Bailey said he is aware of the petition and of the concern of many of his students. The election rhetoric was unfortunate, he said, but the university has been keeping tabs with the congressional delegation to follow how real of a threat this is.”

Utah

Salt Lake City:

• “Salt Lake mayor’s office… declined to go on camera but… stated the city is not technically a sanctuary city, but instead called it a ‘welcoming city.’”
• “‘While salt lake city is not a so-called ‘sanctuary city’, our law enforcement model focuses on providing service and public safety to all citizens of our city, regardless of status or demographics.’” – Police Chief Brown

Vermont

Attorney General:

• ‘[Protecting immigrants is] something that is going to be a priority for me,’ [new Attorney General] Donovan says. ‘I’m already thinking and reaching out to folks about how we respond to this issue. But this is going to be a defining moment, not just for our state, but I think [for] our country. And we all have to be prepared.’”

Burlington:

• Mayor Miro Weinberger “told Keefe in the interview that Burlington already employs many of the same practices as a sanctuary city, such as not asking about immigration status, but in the wake of Republican Donald Trump’s election as president, the mayor said he will work with the City Council to formalize the city’s status.”
• “Burlington Police Chief Brandon del Pozo wrote in a statement that his department has always followed the practice of delivering services regardless of a person’s immigration status. He added that making sure anyone can report crimes or ask for help without fear of deportation is key to public safety.”
• “On Monday Nov. 28, the Burlington City Council formalized Burlington’s sanctuary city status”

Winooski:

• “Mayor Seth Leonard will put forward a ‘resolution authorizing policy development to make Winooski a sanctuary city’ at the council meeting.”

Virginia

Fairfax:

• “Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Sharon Bulova today released a statement reaffirming Fairfax County’s core values of respect, safety and acceptance. She said that ‘in light of recent statements by the incoming administration on immigration policy,’ she sought to reassure Fairfax County residents that ‘our community will remain safe and welcoming to all.’”

George Mason University:

• Mason President Angel Cabrera said. ‘The Mason DACA community includes some of our most accomplished students. They have excelled both inside and outside of the classroom.’ Cabrera issued a plea to the president-elect. ‘We hope that the new administration recognizes the value of these students to our community and to the nation,’ he wrote.”

Richmond: 

• “In response to Trump’s election, Richmond Mayor Tom Butt issued a statement [Friday] reaffirming that his city won’t enforce federal immigration policies… ‘Protecting our immigrant community is a foundation of community policing that makes Richmond a safer place for all our residents,’ Butt wrote.”

Washington

Bellevue:

• “Bellevue Police Chief Steve Mylett said officers won’t be asking residents for their immigration status and won’t use police resources to apprehend undocumented immigrants unless they are suspected of a serious crime.”

King County Sheriff:

• “Currently the county sheriff’s office and King County Public Health do not ask about people’s immigration status.  [Executive Dow] Constantine said that policy will not change.”
• “‘We don’t want anybody to be afraid to talk to us,’ said Sheriff John Urquhart of Washington’s King County, which includes Seattle.”

Kirkland:

• “’Kirkland has had a long standing policy never to ask for immigration papers,’ said Kirkland Police Chief Cherie Harris. ‘We want people to know that our job is to protect and serve the entire community and no resident should fear reporting any crime or intimidation, regardless of their immigration status.’”

Mountlake Terrace:

• “‘We are not planning to change how we do business because of an election,’ said Edmonds Police Chief Al Compaan. ‘That’s how we are going to be a long as I’m here. We’ve never sought out people because of their race, religion or ethnicity and we’re not going to start now.’”

Seattle:

• Mayor Ed Murray promised, “Seattle will remain what some call a sanctuary city for undocumented immigrants despite Donald Trump’s election as president, even if that means losing federal funding.”
• 11-16-16 Police Department: “‘As affirmed by Mayor Murray, the city of Seattle remains committed to values of equality, inclusion and openness,’ [Police Chief] O’Toole said. ‘So does the Seattle Police Department.’”

Tacoma:

• Op Ed by Mayor Marilyn Strickland: “The Tacoma City Council declared Tacoma a Welcoming City in 2015 and again Sept. 13, with a proclamation. A Welcoming City does not say, ‘Go back to your country!’ This kind of inflammatory statement is not who we are as a community. We cannot embrace this kind of bigotry or enmity.”

University of Washington:

• “UW President Ana Mari Cauce and Provost Jerry Baldasty remain dedicated to this inclusive vision.  ‘The university’s policies and commitments are clear and have not changed,’ said Cauce and Baldasty in an email announcement. ‘We are fully committed to providing a safe, secure and welcoming environment that protects the privacy and human rights of all members of our community.’”

Vancouver:

• “At Vancouver City Council’s Monday meeting, Mayor Tim Leavitt read a proclamation on behalf of the city declaring that ‘we are a nation bound not by race or religion, but by the shared values of freedom, liberty and equality. … Our community is strengthened by our growing diversity and ensuring that pathways that foster diversity, dignity, tolerance and respect remain clear and open.’ The proclamation also encouraged leaders in the federal government to ‘quickly develop a humane and efficient pathway to immigrant legalization, including a process that does not mandate the deportation of otherwise law-abiding residents of our community.’”

Wisconsin

Appleton:

• “Appleton Police Chief Todd Thomas this week reiterated his stance, calling immigration a federal responsibility that should not be part of ‘our local law enforcement duties.’”
• “Appleton Mayor Tim Hanna said the election doesn’t change anything in the Fox Valley, and he implores the community to be inclusive for all who live here. ‘The election did not change any laws and it will not change that Appleton is a diverse and inclusive community for everyone,’ Hanna wrote in a statement to USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin.”

Madison:

• “Mayor Paul Soglin and Police Chief Mike Koval said Wednesday that the city’s policies regarding immigration will not change in light of the election… ‘When it comes to law enforcement and the protection of people residing within the city of Madison, we are going to respond in a lawful and dignified matter,’ Soglin said. ‘And that means we encourage all people who feel they need the protection of the city to avail themselves of all of our resources.’”

Private Universities

Brown University, RI:

• “Brown faculty sent administration officials a letter Friday, saying, ‘We have reason to believe that Providence Police officers cannot enter the campus without permission of the University. Given that many students, staff members and their families are directly affected by this issue, we urge the University to immediately work to develop a protocol for the University serving as a sanctuary campus.’”

Columbia University, NY:

• Petition: “We stand with a national movement led by students to assert campuses as sanctuary spaces. We urge you to act expeditiously to make Columbia a sanctuary campus and protect the most vulnerable members of our community who have called Columbia home.”
• University provost, “John H. Coatsworth, told the campus community that the Ivy League school in New York ‘will neither allow immigration officials on our campuses without a warrant, nor share information on the immigration status of undocumented students with those officials unless required by subpoena or court order, or authorized by a student.’”

Emory University, GA:

• “Emory University president Claire Sterk wrote in a letter to students this week that administrators are reviewing their request ‘for a sanctuary campus and ways to protect all members of the Emory community,’ adding that the school is committed to being a welcoming place for undocumented immigrants.”

Harvard University, MA: 11-16-16

• “At Harvard, faculty members wrote a letter published in the Harvard Crimson, asking the administration to take certain steps, including denouncing hate speech, responding concretely to a student petition asking for more support for undocumented students, declaring the university a ‘sanctuary campus.’”
• University President Drew “Faust wrote the University will expand the Harvard Immigration and Refugee Clinical Program at the Law School and bring immigration experts to campus to provide legal resources for undocumented students.”

New York University, NY:

• “[M]any of you want to know that we are affording our full protection and support to everyone who lives, studies, and works at NYU. I want to assure all of you that that is our goal. Documented or undocumented, these are our peers, colleagues, and friends,” New York University President Andrew Hamilton wrote in a letter to the University Senate earlier this week.

Oberlin College, OH:

• “More than 2,400 students, staff, faculty, alumni, and supporters signed a petition, according to a letter sent Monday to Oberlin President Marvin Krislov and several deans.”
• The letter from Oberlin students addressed to President Krislov urges “[President Krislov] to immediately investigate how to make Oberlin College a sanctuary campus.”

Pomona College:

• Admissions Office: “The College is committed to supporting and guiding undocumented and DACAmented students through the application process and, upon their matriculation to Pomona”

Swarthmore College, PA:

• Petition: “In the wake of the recent Presidential election, we – the undersigned students, faculty, and staff – urge you to take immediate steps to make Swarthmore College a sanctuary campus for students, staff, and their family members who face deportation under President-elect Donald J. Trump.”

Tufts University, MA:

• “Students rallied on campus Wednesday pushing their campus to become a safe haven for undocumented students, where they can feel at home and attend classes without fear… Tufts University President Tony Monaco said the university will look into what it means to be a sanctuary campus.”

University of Pennsylvania, PA:

• “A petition created last week calls for [University President Amy] Gutmann and the administration to make Penn a sanctuary campus for undocumented students, staff and their family member.”
• “The University of Pennsylvania will not allow Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) / Customs and Border Protection (CBP) / U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on our campus unless required by warrant,” University President Amy Gutmann said in an email. “Further, the university will not share any information about any undocumented student with these agencies unless presented with valid legal process.”

University of Southern California, CA:

• “An online letter with nearly 3,500 signatures from undocumented students, their family members and staff was presented to University administrators, including President C. L. Max Nikias. The letter’s demand was simple: Make USC a sanctuary campus.”

Wesleyan University, CT:

• University President Michael S. Roth: “‘Having spoken with students, faculty and staff over the last week, and having conferred with the Board of Trustees, I think it very important to declare that Wesleyan University is a sanctuary campus.’”

Yale University, CT: 

• “Since Thursday [11-10-16], more than 2,300 students and faculty members have signed a letter asking the University to declare the campus a sanctuary for undocumented immigrants.”

Private Institutions

Alameda Health System, CA:

• “At their board meeting this evening, trustees of the Alameda Health System, which operates the county’s public hospitals, affirmed that they will continue to make healthcare services available to undocumented immigrants and other populations whose care might be imperiled by the incoming Trump administration.”

Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities (ACCU):

• “Our colleges and universities share a long history of educating students from a diverse array of socioeconomic, geographical, and ethnic backgrounds, often welcoming those on society’s margins, especially immigrants and underprivileged populations. Today, Catholic institutions of higher education continue this mission and legacy. Our college and university communities are home to students from around the world who seek to contribute to American society, to the life and mission of the Church, and to their own formation and growth by pursuing undergraduate and graduate degrees.”

Catholic Bishops:

• Archbishop José H. Gomez, Vice President of the U.S Conference of Catholic Bishops, vows “not to abandon children and parents who are living in fear that Mr. Trump will follow through on his promise to deport millions of immigrants.”

Central United Methodist Church, Boston MA:

• “If you need a safe place, once you enter the doors of this building, you are safe. We will host you and take care of you for as long as it takes.”

Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles, CA:

• The Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles, with more than 140 congregations, has adopted a resolution calling for “holy resistance” to Trump’s immigration proposals and declaring itself a “sanctuary diocese.”

United University Professions Union:

• “‘We stand in support of students regardless of where they were born or how they arrived in this country,’ said Kowal, who is president of United University Professions.”