What is a sanctuary city? Unpacking the protections they offer and their shortfalls
LOS ANGELES, California — An often-heard term, “sanctuary cities” and policies are at the forefront of national discussions over immigration in the U.S., amid the Trump administration’s heightened crackdown.
But what protections do they actually offer for the undocumented community?
“It really means … within this city, this county or this state, local law enforcement is not going to help federal agents enforce federal law,” said Jose Jordan, an immigration attorney in Los Angeles.
However, these policies do not completely eliminate the risk of immigration enforcement within those communities.
“It does not mean that they can prevent federal agents from coming in and enforcing federal law. If they did so, then they would be violating federal law and thus violating the Constitution,” Jordan said.
Gian Marco Velasquez is working towards earning a combined Bachelor’s in Journalism and Master’s in Laws in Media and Entertainment from the University of Southern California. He’s an intern with the investigative unit at Telemundo 52 Los Angeles. You can reach him at gian [dot] velasquez35 [at] gmail [dot] com or on Instagram @gianmvelasquez.
