Philip’s Comments Stir Debate
CNN’s Abby Phillip claimed on NewsNight that there is “no evidence” sanctuary cities interfere with ICE operations.
However, official policies in several sanctuary jurisdictions directly limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities—posing documented challenges to ICE’s ability to locate, detain, and deport illegal immigrants, particularly those with criminal records.
Sanctuary policies generally restrict local law enforcement from honoring ICE detainer requests, sharing information about undocumented detainees, or allowing federal officers access to local jails without a judicial warrant. These limitations are not theoretical—they’re codified in municipal and state laws across the country.
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu has implemented such restrictions. Under her administration, the city limits cooperation with ICE agents by refusing to honor detainers unless accompanied by a judicial warrant—a tool ICE is not required to obtain under federal law.
Wu’s policies also restrict access to city facilities and data, obstructing federal efforts to apprehend individuals flagged for removal.
In Minnesota, Governor Tim Walz has supported similar policies. State and local law enforcement agencies limit the information they share with ICE and often prevent federal agents from interviewing detainees in state custody. These restrictions hinder ICE’s operational efficiency and complicate logistics related to removals.
Los Angeles, under Mayor Karen Bass, has long been a flashpoint in the sanctuary city debate. City policies actively bar local agencies from collaborating with ICE, including prohibiting them from transferring individuals in custody to federal immigration agents. ICE has repeatedly reported challenges in executing removal orders in Los Angeles due to such limitations.
Contrary to Phillip’s assertion, these policies have been publicly acknowledged and debated, and they have resulted in well-documented instances of ICE being unable to detain or remove criminal aliens before local release.
While President Obama’s administration deported record numbers of individuals, it also faced sanctuary-related obstacles—many of which were publicized during high-profile cases involving repeat offenders shielded by local jurisdictions.