Latest news with #sanctuary
The Guardian
11 hours ago
- General
- The Guardian
US homeland security removes list of ‘sanctuary' cities after sheriffs' criticism
The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) removed a list of 'sanctuary' states, cities and counties from its website following sharp criticism from a sheriffs' association that said a list of 'non-compliant' sheriffs could severely damage the relationship between the Trump administration and law enforcement. DHS on Thursday published a list of what it called sanctuary jurisdictions that it deemed were included in areas that have a policy of limiting cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. The list prompted a response from the National Sheriffs' Association, which represents more than 3,000 elected sheriffs across the country and generally supports federal immigration enforcement. Sheriff Kieran Donahue, president of the association, said in a statement on Saturday that DHS published 'a list of alleged noncompliant sheriffs in a manner that lacks transparency and accountability'. Donahue said the list was created without input from sheriffs and 'violated the core principles of trust, cooperation, and partnership with fellow law enforcement'. Donald Trump had called for his administration to tally apparent sanctuary jurisdictions, in a late April executive order, saying the lack of cooperation amounted to 'a lawless insurrection'. The DHS website listing the jurisdictions was offline on Sunday, an issue that Fox News host Maria Bartiromo raised with the homeland security secretary, Kristi Noem, on the talk show Sunday Morning Futures. 'I saw that there was a list produced,' Bartiromo said. 'Now, the list I don't see anymore in the media. Do you have a list of the sanctuary cities that are actually hiding illegals right now?' Noem did not acknowledge the list being taken offline but said some localities had bristled. 'Some of the cities have pushed back,' Noem said. 'They think because they don't have one law or another on the books that they don't qualify, but they do qualify. They are giving sanctuary to criminals.' Leaders of some cities publicly questioned the sanctuary label this week, including jurisdictions in southern California, Colorado and Massachusetts. San Diego city attorney Heather Ferbert told local outlets that San Diego – named on the DHS list – had never adopted a sanctuary policy and that the move appeared to be politically motivated. 'We suspect this is going to be used as additional threats and fear tactics to threaten federal funding that the city relies on,' she said. Immigrant advocates and some Democrats say sanctuary policies help build trust between immigrant communities and law enforcement so that residents will be more likely to report crimes. At a hearing before a US House of Representatives committee in March, mayors from Boston, Chicago, Denver and New York City, which vote majority Democratic party, said sanctuary policies made their cities safer and that they would always honor criminal arrest warrants. Noem, who shares Trump's hardline anti-immigration views, said the department would continue to use the sanctuary tally. DHS did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The internet archive website Wayback Machine showed the list still online on Saturday.
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
DHS removes list of 'sanctuary' cities after sheriffs push back on non-compliant label
By Ted Hesson WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Department of Homeland Security removed a list of "sanctuary" states, cities and counties from its website following sharp criticism from a sheriffs' association that said a list of "non-compliant" sheriffs could severely damage the relationship between the Trump administration and law enforcement. DHS on Thursday published a list of what it called "sanctuary" jurisdictions that allegedly limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. The list prompted a response from the National Sheriffs' Association, which represents more than 3,000 elected sheriffs across the U.S. and generally supports federal immigration enforcement. Sheriff Kieran Donahue, president of the association, said in a statement on Saturday that DHS published "a list of alleged noncompliant sheriffs in a manner that lacks transparency and accountability." Donahue said the list was created without input from sheriffs and "violated the core principles of trust, cooperation, and partnership with fellow law enforcement." President Donald Trump had called for his administration to tally alleged sanctuary jurisdictions in a late April executive order, saying the lack of cooperation amounted to "a lawless insurrection." The DHS website listing the jurisdictions was offline on Sunday, an issue that Fox News host Maria Bartiromo raised with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on "Sunday Morning Futures." "I saw that there was a list produced," Bartiromo said. "Now, the list I don't see anymore in the media. Do you have a list of the sanctuary cities that are actually hiding illegals right now?" Noem did not acknowledge the list being taken offline but said some localities had bristled. "Some of the cities have pushed back," Noem said. "They think because they don't have one law or another on the books that they don't qualify, but they do qualify. They are giving sanctuary to criminals." Leaders of some cities publicly questioned the sanctuary label this week, including jurisdictions in Southern California, Colorado and Massachusetts. San Diego City Attorney Heather Ferbert told local outlets that San Diego - named on the DHS list - had never adopted a sanctuary policy and that the move appeared to be politically motivated. 'We suspect this is going to be used as additional threats and fear tactics to threaten federal funding that the city relies on," she said. Immigrant advocates and some Democrats say sanctuary policies help build trust between immigrant communities and law enforcement so that residents will be more likely to report crimes. At a hearing before a U.S. House of Representatives committee in March, mayors from Boston, Chicago, Denver and New York City said sanctuary policies made their cities safer and that they would always honor criminal arrest warrants. Noem, who shares Trump's hardline immigration views, said the department would continue to use the sanctuary tally. DHS did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The internet archive website Wayback Machine showed the list still online on Saturday. It was not clear when it went offline or whether it was related to pushback from sheriffs. In his statement on Saturday, Donahue specifically called out DHS. '"This is an unfortunate and unnecessary erosion of unity and collaboration with law enforcement and the enforcement of the rule of law at a time when that unity is needed most," he said. "This decision by DHS could create a vacuum of trust that may take years to overcome." Sheriffs play a key role in immigration enforcement, holding alleged immigration violators for federal immigration officers in local jails and providing detention space. The Trump administration last week pushed out two top U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials amid pressure for more arrests and deportations. Stephen Miller, the architect of Trump's immigration agenda, said ICE would be tasked with a goal of 3,000 arrests per day - 10 times the number last year under former President Joe Biden. Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons said Sunday on "Fox & Friends" that the agency hit 1,600 arrests several times last week, the highest levels since Trump took office. "ICE can do more," he said. "We will do more."
Reuters
12 hours ago
- General
- Reuters
DHS removes list of 'sanctuary' cities after sheriffs push back on non-compliant label
WASHINGTON, June 1 (Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Homeland Security removed a list of "sanctuary" states, cities and counties from its website following sharp criticism from a sheriffs' association that said a list of "non-compliant" sheriffs could severely damage the relationship between the Trump administration and law enforcement. DHS on Thursday published a list of what it called "sanctuary" jurisdictions that allegedly limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. The list prompted a response from the National Sheriffs' Association, which represents more than 3,000 elected sheriffs across the U.S. and generally supports federal immigration enforcement. Sheriff Kieran Donahue, president of the association, said in a statement, opens new tab on Saturday that DHS published "a list of alleged noncompliant sheriffs in a manner that lacks transparency and accountability." Donahue said the list was created without input from sheriffs and "violated the core principles of trust, cooperation, and partnership with fellow law enforcement." President Donald Trump had called for his administration to tally alleged sanctuary jurisdictions in a late April executive order, saying the lack of cooperation amounted to "a lawless insurrection." The DHS website listing the jurisdictions was offline, opens new tab on Sunday, an issue that Fox News host Maria Bartiromo raised with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on "Sunday Morning Futures." "I saw that there was a list produced," Bartiromo said. "Now, the list I don't see anymore in the media. Do you have a list of the sanctuary cities that are actually hiding illegals right now?" Noem did not acknowledge the list being taken offline but said some localities had bristled. "Some of the cities have pushed back," Noem said. "They think because they don't have one law or another on the books that they don't qualify, but they do qualify. They are giving sanctuary to criminals." Leaders of some cities publicly questioned the sanctuary label this week, including jurisdictions in Southern California, Colorado and Massachusetts. San Diego City Attorney Heather Ferbert told local outlets that San Diego - named on the DHS list - had never adopted a sanctuary policy and that the move appeared to be politically motivated. 'We suspect this is going to be used as additional threats and fear tactics to threaten federal funding that the city relies on," she said. Immigrant advocates and some Democrats say sanctuary policies help build trust between immigrant communities and law enforcement so that residents will be more likely to report crimes. At a hearing before a U.S. House of Representatives committee in March, mayors from Boston, Chicago, Denver and New York City said sanctuary policies made their cities safer and that they would always honor criminal arrest warrants. Noem, who shares Trump's hardline immigration views, said the department would continue to use the sanctuary tally. DHS did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The internet archive website Wayback Machine showed the list still online on Saturday, opens new tab. It was not clear when it went offline or whether it was related to pushback from sheriffs. In his statement on Saturday, Donahue specifically called out DHS. '"This is an unfortunate and unnecessary erosion of unity and collaboration with law enforcement and the enforcement of the rule of law at a time when that unity is needed most," he said. "This decision by DHS could create a vacuum of trust that may take years to overcome." Sheriffs play a key role in immigration enforcement, holding alleged immigration violators for federal immigration officers in local jails and providing detention space. The Trump administration last week pushed out two top U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials amid pressure for more arrests and deportations. Stephen Miller, the architect of Trump's immigration agenda, said ICE would be tasked with a goal of 3,000 arrests per day - 10 times the number last year under former President Joe Biden. Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons said Sunday on "Fox & Friends" that the agency hit 1,600 arrests several times last week, the highest levels since Trump took office. "ICE can do more," he said. "We will do more."
RNZ News
a day ago
- Business
- RNZ News
Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre calls for financial help
Pūkaha board co-chair Mavis Mullins says without an immediate and significant cash injection the sanctuary will be forced to shut its doors. Photo: Supplied/ Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre A former board chair of a wildlife sanctuary in financial strife says he is working overtime to get a handle on the situation. The not-for-profit Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre, which boarders the Tararua and Wairarapa districts, is a breeding sanctuary for native birds including kiwi. It has, in recent days, put out an urgent plea for financial help. In a statement Pūkaha board co-chair Mavis Mullins said without an immediate and significant cash injection the board would be forced to shut its doors. The Post has reported that the centre needed to find $600,000. Former board chair Bob Francis and local businessman Shane McManaway had recently been brought in to oversee a complete overhaul of the organisation, she said. Francis said he and McManaway were in the process of figuring out the centre's finances. "We're working over time to sort it out." Former Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre board chair Bob Francis. Photo: Supplied / Bob Francis Mullins said for several months the sanctuary had been working with potential investors, and had brought in independent financial advice. "We've also been in discussion with the Department of Conservation about the payment of outstanding invoices for Shore Plover Aviaries, a nearly completed construction project urgently needed to continue the national programme of protection of this endangered species." The centre was now asking for the community to step in, she said. "Pūkaha has been one of the New Zealand trail blazers in saving native wildlife like our national icon the kiwi, and takahē, kōkako, tūturuatu and kākā. "But the current operating model, which includes only part funding of conservation work by the Department of Conservation, with the rest from community funding, is no longer sustainable." She said the centre had not given up hope - "but the doors will shut soon unless immediate additional funding is forthcoming". The board and management were communicating to lenders, creditors and staff about the potential closure, Mullins said. "This is a very difficult time for all our staff, stakeholders and communities as we work through the next steps and urgently raise capital so we can avoid the painful decision to close," she said. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
Milwaukee, other Wisconsin 'sanctuary jurisdictions' listed as defying federal immigration law
The Trump administration put Milwaukee and a handful of other Wisconsin municipalities on a list of 'sanctuary' jurisdictions allegedly defying enforcement of federal immigration law and in jeopardy of losing federal grants and contracts. But communities on the list across the country questioned their inclusion, with some Trump-supporting places saying they have no sanctuary immigration policies. More progressive places either defended their policies or drew attention to the error-riddled list, which misspelled cities like Cincinnati and misidentified counties as cities, or vice versa. The Department of Homeland Security published the list a month after Trump issued an executive order directing DHS Secretary Kristi Noem to do so as part of his agenda to deport millions of illegal immigrants. The department included a major caveat on its website, noting the list can be reviewed and changed at any time and will be updated regularly. It's unclear what exactly landed Milwaukee, Madison, Dane County and Shawano County in northeastern Wisconsin on the list. DHS did not return a request for comment May 30. For the most part, the term today refers to cities, counties and states that pass ordinances, policies or legislation declaring themselves sanctuaries for immigrants and promising to limit cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's efforts to detain and deport people who are undocumented. Technically, neither the city of Milwaukee nor Milwaukee County has ordinances or resolutions that explicitly state they are sanctuaries for immigrants. More: Is Milwaukee a sanctuary city? Not quite, but it's one of Wisconsin's closest examples Neither the Milwaukee Police Department nor the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office asks for people's citizenship status, nor do they detain people solely because of their immigration status. People who are booked at the Milwaukee County Jail are required to state their birth country and citizenship, but these responses are self-reported and not confirmed. Immigration and Customs Enforcement lists the Milwaukee County Jail as one of two "non-cooperative institutions" in Wisconsin. That means the jail generally does not alert ICE about noncitizens in custody who are about to be released, nor will the jail commit to holding them until ICE can take them into custody. The Milwaukee Police Department and the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office cooperate with ICE in some circumstances. They will detain, arrest, and share personal information of undocumented people with ICE — such as home and work addresses or the person's custody release date — if that person is suspected of terrorism, gang activity or arrested for violent felonies. In addition, Milwaukee Public Schools in 2017 passed a Safe Haven Resolution that says actions taken by ICE on school grounds "will be opposed by all legal means available." Some people say these on immigration enforcement are an indirect way of being a sanctuary city. But others, such as Comité Sin Fronteras, a branch of Voces De La Frontera, argue the county and city aren't sanctuaries because more could be done. The county, for example, could prohibit immigration officers from making arrests at the courthouse. Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson said he had not received a formal notice from the federal government about the list. "This is another example of the Trump administration, you know, shooting first and asking questions later," Johnson told WISN. "It's exhausting trying to keep up with everything that this administration is putting forward. It's like they're just slapping things on the wall and hoping that they stick." Jeff Fleming, a spokesman for Johnson, said the city was surprised to learn of its designation. He said city officials have met internally to evaluate options on whether to take issue with it. In 2017, defunding sanctuary cities was among Trump's first executive orders, but it didn't hold up in federal court. Like Milwaukee, officials for Madison and Dane County said they have not been formally notified of their inclusion on the list. ICE identified Dane County as a 'non-cooperative institution." Dane County Sheriff Kalvin Barrett earlier this year ended participation in a federal program that gives officers the authority to carry out immigration duties under the direction of ICE. The Madison Police Department does not routinely ask about the immigration status of people interacting with officers, nor does it conduct immigration-related investigations unless a person is is suspected of terrorism, gang activity or arrested for violent felonies. In response to making the sanctuary list, Madison City Attorney Michael Haas told the Capital Times that Madison is a 'welcoming city, and we make no apologies for that.' He said the city is 'exploring all options to protect our residents, our city and the funding appropriated to our city by Congress.' Shawano County, just west of Green Bay, wound up on the list despite 67% of county voters supporting Trump in the November election. The Shawano County Sheriff's Office and county administrator Jim Davel did not return Green Bay Press-Gazette interview requests May 30. Davel told the Associated Press the list was a misunderstanding. Shawano County had not approved any immigration sanctuary policies. The Shawano County Board did vote in March 2021 to become a 'Second Amendment Sanctuary County' that opposed any attempts to enact "legislation unlawfully infringing on our rights under the Second Amendment." However, Shawano County said it did not share the names of people booked in their jails with ICE, according to a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and USA TODAY Network-Wisconsin survey of 72 sheriffs this year. 'We have no idea how we got on this list whatsoever right at this point,' Davel told the Associated Press. 'I think it was just a big mix up, probably some paperwork or something.' Vivian Barrett of the Green Bay Press-Gazette and Gina Castro of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel contributed to this article. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Trump sanctuary list includes Milwaukee, Madison and Shawano County
