On the heels of a bombshell New York Times report that the Trump Administration will be sending military-style tactical units, starting this month, to “safeguard” American cities the Trump administration labels as “sanctuary” cities, a panel of experts and advocates gathered to respond:  Naureen Shah, Senior Advocacy and Policy... Continue »
Originally published April 25, 2017; last updated October 9, 2019 “Sanctuary cities” is actually a misnomer. While many Americans believe that it refers to a city that doesn’t prosecute immigrants, so-called “sanctuary cities” actually refer to something far more specific. There’s no single definition of what is a sanctuary... Continue »
The news that North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper has vetoed legislation that would subvert local law enforcement’s authority and force local sheriffs to act as ICE deportation agents is a positive step for pragmatic policymaking and common-sense. As Governor Cooper rightfully noted in a message accompanying his veto, “This... Continue »
Last Tuesday was a great night for progressives, immigration advocates, new American voters — and those who believe in pro-immigrant local policies which separate the police from immigration enforcement. Voters in Oregon and several counties across the nation voted to ensure that local resources are not spent in service... Continue »
Rally-goers discuss what's happening with DACA in the courts.
On Tuesday, Earnell Lucas defeated Richard Schmidt in the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s election to replace David A. Clarke Jr., who resigned as Milwaukee County sheriff last year to become a senior advisor to the pro-Donald Trump America First Action Super PAC. Schmidt was Clarke’s longtime assistant Acting Sheriff, and... Continue »
United We Dream, Grassroots Leadership, and Workers Defense Project lead effort to making Austin more inclusive and equitable   Late last night, the Austin City Council voted unanimously to pass Freedom City resolutions, policies that will address the city’s racial disparity in policing, require full vetting and reporting on... Continue »
In the last year, the Trump Administration has repeatedly attacked local governments for not turning immigrants over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) every time the government asks them to. They are criticizing local governments for not always obeying ICE detainers — conveniently ignoring the fact that it’s actually... Continue »
A must-read editorial in the Washington Post recaps the White House’s recent roundtable on “sanctuary” jurisdictions, part of the Trump Administration’s ongoing efforts to slander immigrants to justify their radical deportation strategy. We excerpt the Post editorial,  “Trump convenes a festival of fear-mongering on sanctuary cities,” below: “The spread of so-called sanctuary cities raises fair... Continue »
United States Attorney General Jeff Sessions has filed a lawsuit against the state of California over pro-immigrant laws that protect Californians from the abuses of immigration enforcement officials. This lawsuit is the latest reminder of the Trump Administration’s war on immigrants and its efforts to spread fear and separate... Continue »
In a new interview with NPR All Things Considered, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra discusses — clearly and persuasively — the implications of the lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Justice against California’s immigration policies and doubles down on the state’s safety first policies: …We’re simply doing what the... Continue »