Employers in so-called ‘sanctuary cities’ need to prepare for increased ICE enforcement

As many readers are certainly aware, President Donald Trump has resumed and intensified immigration enforcement efforts. In the most recent wave of action, the president issued an Executive Order (EO) directing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to publish a list of all sanctuary jurisdictions. DHS recently released its list, which includes states, cities, and counties across the United States, including right here in our own backyard—naming Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New York. So, what does this mean for employers in these locations? Here is what you need to know.

Sanctuary cities

A sanctuary jurisdiction is one that limits its cooperation with federal immigration enforcement to make sure undocumented immigrants feel safe to report crimes, access public services, and otherwise engage with their local government.

Sanctuary cities typically don’t allow local law enforcement to detain people solely based on an immigration violation or provide U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) with access to interview individuals in jails or prisons. Sanctuary jurisdictions are believed to make it easier for undocumented immigrants to report crimes and access services without fear of deportation.

Trump’s Executive Order