By now, most of us have seen the violence that unfailingly accompanies the presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE. In 2025, 32 people died while in the agency’s custody, making it the deadliest year for ICE since 2004. To combat the severity of ICE’s brutality, many mayors in progressive cities have locked in on their status as sanctuary cities, but what does this actually mean?“Sanctuary city” is an umbrella term for the many policies that a municipal government can implement to provide immigrants a safe environment to live in. Cities provide free in-state services, like education and legal defense against deportation, to migrants, encouraging inclusivity and diversity. In 1989, San Francisco passed the Sanctuary Ordinance, banning city employees from using funds to assist ICE and asking about immigration status on any application for services, unless federally required. By passing legislation like that, the city promotes trust between residents and the Police and Fire Departments, especially in times of emergency. Another example is New York City, which passed Executive Order 124 to make reporting the immigration status of a detainee to ICE optional. In general, these policies are “crucial to protecting fundamental rights, such as the right to live free from racial profiling, illegal searches and stops, and arrests without probable cause,” ensuring fundamental human rights are protected no matter who is in power.
