United States Constitution
Sanctuary Policies
Sanctuary jurisdictions—states and localities that obstruct federal immigration enforcement—pose a serious threat to the safety and security of the American people. FAIR has been on the front lines of fighting sanctuary cities, and in 2025, we exposed more than 1,003 jurisdictions that refuse to cooperate in the enforcement of our immigration laws, shielding criminal aliens and undermining the rule of law.
The number of sanctuary jurisdictions has surged over the years, increasing from fewer than a dozen in the 1990s to 564 in 2018.[1] According to FAIR’s latest tally, as of May 2025, at least 1,003 sanctuary jurisdictions in the United States shield illegal aliens from immigration enforcement, openly undermining the rule of law.
Of the total number of sanctuary jurisdictions, 17 states and Washington, D.C. have state-wide sanctuary policies that shield criminal aliens. There has also been an alarming trend of some localities strengthening their pre-existing restrictions on cooperating with the federal government.
Fortunately, other state and local governments are proactively adopting laws that require more cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. However, even though 22 states have banned sanctuary policies, some local jurisdictions still defy these state laws.
Only three states with anti-sanctuary laws—Arkansas, Montana, and West Virginia—are entirely free of sanctuary jurisdictions.
Background
https://www.fairus.org/issues/sanctuary-policies
