NYC among Tri-State area cities named on Trump administration's now-removed list targeting sanctuary policies
President Trump's crackdown on sanctuary policies around the country named three dozen cities in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut last week, but the list has since been taken down.
Executive Order 14287: Protecting American Communities from Criminal Aliens required to identify sanctuary jurisdictions based on factors like compliance with federal law enforcement, information restrictions and legal protections for migrants who entered the country illegally.
The Department of Homeland Security posted it last Thursday, alleging these jurisdictions are "deliberately and shamefully obstructing the enforcement of federal immigration laws endangering American communities."
"Sanctuary cities protect dangerous criminal aliens from facing consequences and put law enforcement in peril," the release said.
DHS said each jurisdiction would receive a formal notice of its non-compliance with federal statutes, ordering an immediate review and revision of their policies to align with federal immigration laws. The release noted that the list could be changed at any time and would be updated regularly.
On Sunday, there was a "Page Not Found" error message in place of the list.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said on Fox News' "Sunday Morning Futures" that some officials had been angry about it, but she did not say why it was removed.
"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."
New York cities on DHS sanctuary list
New York State was named on the list, along with a dozen cities, including New York City.
Gov. Kathy Hochul is scheduled to answer questions about the state's sanctuary status later this month during a House committee hearing on Capitol Hill. Mayor Eric Adams previously joined the mayors of Boston, Chicago and Denver to address the city's policies, as well.
Adams, who agreed to let U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents open an office at Rikers Island after several meetings with President Trump's so-called border czar Tom Homan, says he wants to make sure members of the city's immigrant community are not afraid to use city services, like sending their kids to school or dialing 911.
"We will continue to fight for every federal dollar that New Yorkers deserve," a spokesperson for the mayor said about the funding threat.
It's become a common refrain from the Trump administration: Change your policies or face federal funding cuts. New Yorkers heard it with regards to congestion pricing, and now dozens of localities are facing the same threat when it comes to sanctuary city laws.
"It is saying to cities: If you don't comply with our policy and our approach to immigration, then you will not get federal funding," explained Rep. Dan Goldman, who represents part of Manhattan and Brooklyn. "This federal funding is critical to cities and states, including New York, and it is a big hammer."
Immigration experts say the mayor should do more.
"One thing that the mayor can do is stop trying to walk around our sanctuary laws, as he is with Rikers and the agreement he's come up with with ICE and DHS, and he can continue to actually try to invest in immigration legal services," said Murad Awawdeh, president and CEO of the New York Immigration Coalition.
These were the cities listed statewide:
- Albany
- Beacon
- East Hampton
- Hudson
- Ithaca
- Kingston
- New Paltz
- New York City
- Newburgh
- Poughkeepsie
- Rochester
- Syracuse
The following 15 counties were also listed: Albany, Dutchess, Monroe, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Saratoga, Suffolk, Sullivan, Tompkins, Ulster, Warren, Wayne, Westchester and Yates.
Rockland County, which is led by a Republican county executive, was among those that took issue with the list.
"Based upon the submission of information from the New York State Association of Counties (NYSAC) and this Office, we were advised by White House staff that the cited document, created by the previous administration, is being pulled down due to serious questions about the methodology used in its creation," Rockland County attorney Thomas Humbach said in a statement to CBS News New York.
New Jersey cities on DHS sanctuary list
New Jersey was also on the list, along with 18 cities and Burlington, Cumberland and Warren counties.
Last month, the Justice Department sued Newark, Hoboken, Jersey City, Paterson, and their respective mayors, over their sanctuary policies.
- Asbury Park
- Bloomfield
- Camden
- East Orange
- Hoboken
- Jersey City
- Leonia
- Linden
- Maplewood
- Montclair Township
- Newark
- North Bergen
- Paterson
- Plainfield
- Prospect Park
- South Orange
- Trenton
- Union City
Connecticut cities on DHS sanctuary list
Connecticut was listed along with its Tri-State neighbors and the following six cities:
- East Haven
- Hamden
- Hartford
- New Haven
- New London
- Windham
Gov. Ned Lamont released a statement Friday, pushing back on the characterization.
"We want local law enforcement focused on maintaining the safety of our neighborhoods and helping to get those who commit serious crimes off our streets. Connecticut's Trust Act, which was originally bipartisan, is consistent with federal constitutional standards and reflects sound public safety priorities," Lamont wrote. "I am focused on making sure people feel safe in our schools, churches, and elsewhere. Nothing about this makes Connecticut a 'sanctuary' in any legal or practical sense - it makes our state one that upholds the Constitution, respects the rule of law, and prioritizes the safety and well-being of our communities."
The overall list named cities in 35 states around the country, along with the District of Columbia.
By and large, the Trump administration has not been successful challenging sanctuary city laws. Several prior rulings have said the feds cannot use spending powers, or withhold funds, to coerce compliance with immigration laws. Courts have also ruled that state and local governments have autonomy to determine their own policies.
