Latest news with #sanctuarycity
CBS News
4 hours ago
- General
- CBS News
Pittsburgh vows to protect immigrants despite threat of federal funding cuts
Pittsburgh and Allegheny County are among hundreds of jurisdictions accused of standing in the way of the Trump administration's efforts to round up and deport illegal immigrants. The list of jurisdictions published last week by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has been taken down, but Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey has vowed not to assist federal agents, and the city could still face a loss of federal funding if it does not comply. From its taco stands to its bodega groceries to its Mexican restaurants, the Beechview neighborhood has become Pittsburgh's barrio. "Beechview had hardly any storefronts taken up, and now we have all kinds of different things here. And a lot of it is Hispanic," said Missy Berumen, an owner of Law Palmas. They've come here from Mexico and across Latin America — countries like Honduras and Guatemala. Berumen says most are seeking asylum and in the process of applying for citizenship. "They are afraid?" KDKA's Andy Sheehan asked. "They're afraid, yeah, because they've done everything they're supposed to do, and then all of a sudden they get a letter or a message or an email," Berumen said. Or get rounded up by agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement, who were spotted in Wilkinsburg last week. Pittsburgh is technically not a sanctuary city, but Mayor Gainey has vowed to protect the immigrants, saying Pittsburgh will not cooperate with ICE. Now, both the city and county find themselves on the Department of Homeland Security's list, accused of violating federal immigration laws. After complaints from several jurisdictions, the list has been taken down, at least temporarily. Both the city and county contend they are not in violation of immigration laws and that Homeland Security has not specified any allegations. But while the Trump administration says it will cut funding to cities and counties not in compliance, Deputy Mayor Jake Pawlak says Pittsburgh will not change its policy and begin cooperating with ICE. "If we were to accept federal funding in exchange for making a compromise about the value we place on human life and human dignity, what would that be worth? And to me, that's a really easy question to answer," Pawlak said.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Rep. Dexter: Trump policies ‘destabilizing, undermining' Oregon
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Just a day after the Trump Administration they say are defying federal law, US Rep. Maxine Dexter did not back down before a Saturday town hall at Mount Hood Community College. The list by the Department of Homeland Security along with numerous cities and counties in the Pacific Northwest. The Trump Administration said each jurisdiction identified will receive formal notification of not complying with federal statues and demand they review and revise their policies. Last living grandson of 10th U.S. President John Tyler, dies at 96 Federal funding being withheld 'is a concern, it's the threat. But we are not going to back down from protecting our neighbors. This is a sanctuary city, we are a sanctuary county, we are a sanctuary state,' Dexter told KOIN 6 News. 'We have tripled-down on making sure people feel as safe as possible in a really unsettling time.' She noted people often say immigration is not an issue that affects their daily lives, but she pushed back on that idea. 'I get a lot of criticism for fighting for immigrant rights and due process. If they can pick someone up with a Green Card without due process and put them away, it can happen to you. It can happen to me,' she said. 'We have to make sure that all of us have the rights that our Constitution gives us — and it's not just for citizens, which is to the contrary of what a lot of folks are circulating.' Oregon companies call for investigation into countries accused of 'dumping' exports Dexter, hosting her 10th town hall since taking office, said there has been one consistent topic brought up in all her events. 'Democracy has been a top of mind issue for constituents throughout,' she told KOIN 6 News. 'The detention centers, immigration, the economy, most likely we'll hear some things about the Middle East. We've got others who are concerned about other parts of our democracy, like the SAVE Act and the budget bill.' And she said the tariffs policies are not helping Oregonians. 'Oregon is the 10th-most trade dependent state in the nation. This is without question already impacting us. Our budget forecast that we just received was $750 million less than we estimated. Economists already believe tariffs are already having an impact. We are dependent on trade and exports in particular,' she told KOIN 6 News. She continued, 'What Trump is doing is not helping our economy, it's not fiscally stabilizing. It is destabilizing and undermining the people of this state.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
New York Times
3 days ago
- General
- New York Times
A Federal List of Immigrant ‘Sanctuaries' Nets Trump Allies and Foes Alike
The January vote was unanimous. Huntington Beach, Calif., was 'a non-sanctuary city for illegal immigration,' its City Council declared. So local officials in the conservative Orange County coastal redoubt found it rather surprising to find on Friday morning that their city had been included on a list of 'sanctuary jurisdictions,' which, the Department of Homeland Security charged, 'are deliberately and shamefully obstructing the enforcement of federal immigration laws.' 'I've already called somebody with the feds and said this couldn't be further from the truth,' said Huntington Beach's mayor, Pat Burns, 'so let's straighten it out.' 'I'd love to know, really, who came up with this list,' he added. 'It's very negligent.' Huntington Beach is one of more than 600 cities, counties and states that the federal government has accused of shielding 'dangerous criminal aliens.' The list, which was published on Thursday, was mandated by an April executive order that explicitly threatened the jurisdictions with the termination of federal contracts and declared they might even be breaking the law. Some of the jurisdictions on the list had indeed designated themselves as sanctuary cities in resolutions or executive orders. Officials in other places argued that the phrase 'sanctuary city' did not technically apply, though they had pledged to protect immigrants. But mixed among them were many counties and cities that openly support efforts to apprehend and deport immigrants, or have even been actively cooperating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Officials in other places that had voted overwhelmingly for President Trump but were far from the front lines of the immigration debate were simply bewildered. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
‘An embarrassment': Tennessee House Republican reacts to Nashville's sanctuary city label by DHS
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — A Tennessee House Republican called the Department of Homeland Security's declaration that Nashville and Shelby County are sanctuary jurisdictions 'an embarrassment' and 'a shame.' DHS included Nashville and Shelby County on its list of sanctuary jurisdictions, which was 'created to identify sanctuary jurisdictions, which are determined by factors like compliance with federal law enforcement, information restrictions, and legal protections for illegal aliens,' according to DHS. Rep. Rusty Grills (R-Newbern) called the label 'sad.' Homeland Security identifies Nashville as sanctuary city 'It's a slap in the face to the rest of Tennessee when you have a mayor or city alderman and Nashville Metro that are trying to circumvent federal law. That's not the way Tennessee operates,' Grills said. 'We operate by rules and regulations, and we obey the laws. When you have a mayor who's gone rogue, that's a problem.' Under state law, it's a felony to enact sanctuary city policies. DHS's new declaration that Nashville and Shelby County are sanctuary jurisdictions raises questions about whether the municipalities are in violation of that state law. Grills argues they are. 'Anytime you have someone that's helping a group of people break the law, that's a problem, and I'm concerned when DHS has to come in and say, 'You know what, Tennessee, you've got two counties that are breaking the law.' That's an embarrassment and that's a shame,' Grills said. However, Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell told reporters Friday he isn't concerned about any potential charges or discoveries of wrongdoing. He questioned how DHS came up with the sanctuary jurisdiction label in the first place. 'I'm puzzled about what criteria they used to include Nashville,' O'Connell said. 'We are not and never have been a sanctuary city. If you look at the state law that defines a sanctuary city policy, there are six factors, and we do not and have not ever had a policy that violates any of those factors.' According to the state law, a sanctuary policy is defined as any rule that prevents state or local officials from working with federal immigration officers, limits sharing information about people's legal status, or blocks ICE from doing its job. 'Metro does not have any legal authority as it relates to immigration enforcement, and we do not impede federal law enforcement actions,' O'Connell said. However, Grills disagrees. ⏩ 'They want to protect criminals, they want to protect rapists, they want to protect murderers, and it's obvious they're willing to create GoFundMe accounts so they can help people that are in this country illegally circumvent the law, that's a problem,' Grills said. Tennessee Congressman Andy Ogles called for a Congressional investigation to uncover any potential wrongdoing by O'Connell. That investigation has begun. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
3 days ago
- General
- CBS News
Huntington Beach mistakenly added to sanctuary city list from Homeland Security
Huntington Beach city leaders do not hide their support for President Donald Trump and his policies. So, when their town ended up on a sanctuary city list, accused of defying federal law, the mayor didn't mince words. "It's pure negligence," Mayor Pat Burns said. "It's government, unfortunately, at its best. That's how we have such a bad reputation." The Department of Homeland Security published the list to identify sanctuary cities and counties deliberately obstructing the enforcement of federal immigration law. La Puente, Long Beach, Los Angeles and Malibu join Huntington Beach on the list. However, Santa Ana, the first Orange County to designate itself as a sanctuary for undocumented immigrants, was notably absent on the list. Huntington Beach declared itself a "non-sanctuary city" after President Trump's inauguration. "In January, we submitted a declaration, and our council voted 7-0 to support that our city, Huntington Beach, is a non-sanctuary city," Burns said. "It's pretty simple. Huntington Beach first we want the full effect of every law enforcement agency that we can have." Burns believes Homeland Security will amend its list. He hopes someone will be held accountable for the mistake. A DHS spokesperson said the list will be actively reviewed and can be changed at any time.
