Over 200 jurisdictions invoke anti-commandeering doctrine to refuse ICE cooperation

Over 200 sanctuary cities and counties refused to comply with Trump administration immigration enforcement demands by February 12, 2025 (DHS sanctuary jurisdiction list).

President Trump signed the executive order “Protecting American Communities from Criminal Aliens” on April 28, 2025, directing the Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security to publish a list of sanctuary jurisdictions (White House executive order).

Federal grants account for nearly 20 percent of Chicago’s $17.3 billion 2025 budget, which the Trump administration threatened to withhold over sanctuary city policies (Washington Post budget analysis).

U.S. District Judge William Orrick blocked the Trump administration from withholding federal funds from 16 sanctuary jurisdictions (Reuters court ruling).

Sanctuary cities invoke the Tenth Amendment to argue that local governments cannot be forced to enforce federal immigration laws using local resources (CNN sanctuary city explainer).