HILLSBORO, N.D.- Local law enforcement agencies, including in North Dakota, are condemning a move by the Trump administration to label some jurisdictions as “sanctuaries” over perceived differences related to immigration arrests.
The Department of Homeland Security last week released a list of jurisdictions, including cities and counties, it says were “deliberately obstructing” enforcement of federal immigration laws. In response, some local departments say their city or county never adopted such a policy.
Steve Hunt of the North Dakota Sheriff’s & Deputies Association says none of the departments listed for his state should have been mentioned. He says, “I was extremely disappointed and frankly, angry. On a much grander scale, it does have an effect. We don’t know what criteria were used or what substantiated being placed on that list.”
Hunt, the sheriff of Traill County, says he’s still willing to work with federal partners to detain a person under deportation orders. But he says politics shouldn’t be mixed with the mission of upholding the law.
D-H-S hasn’t responded to requests for comment but has removed the list from its website after local pushback.
Comments