Justice Department Publishes Updated List of Sanctuary Jurisdictions Amid Immigration Enforcement Efforts
Washington, D.C., August 5, 2025 — The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) released a new list identifying 35 states, counties, and cities it classifies as “sanctuary jurisdictions,” intensifying its crackdown on localities with policies that it says obstruct federal immigration law enforcement.
This release follows Executive Order 14287, signed by President Donald Trump on April 28, 2025, which aims to protect American communities from criminal aliens by targeting jurisdictions that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Attorney General Pamela Bondi emphasized the administration’s commitment to addressing these local policies.
“Sanctuary policies impede law enforcement and put American citizens at risk by design,” Bondi said. “The Department of Justice will continue bringing litigation against sanctuary jurisdictions and work closely with the Department of Homeland Security to eradicate these harmful policies around the country.”
The updated list, published on August 5, 2025, includes 13 states, four counties, and 18 cities. These jurisdictions have enacted laws, regulations, or policies that restrict cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other federal immigration enforcement agencies.
Sanctuary Jurisdiction Breakdown
States identified: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Minnesota, Nevada, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington.
Counties: Baltimore County (Maryland), Cook County (Illinois), San Diego County (California), San Francisco County (California).
Cities: Albuquerque (New Mexico), Berkeley (California), Boston (Massachusetts), Chicago (Illinois), Denver (Colorado), East Lansing (Michigan), Hoboken (New Jersey), Jersey City (New Jersey), Los Angeles (California), New Orleans (Louisiana), New York City (New York), Newark (New Jersey), Paterson (New Jersey), Philadelphia (Pennsylvania), Portland (Oregon), Rochester (New York), Seattle (Washington), and San Francisco (California).
Background and Controversy
This latest list replaces an earlier, larger list issued in late May 2025 that was met with criticism due to numerous errors and inconsistencies, such as including jurisdictions supportive of the Trump administration and even some that declared themselves “non-sanctuary”.
The new list focuses predominantly on Democratic-led jurisdictions and clarifies the DOJ’s criteria more effectively, though no new penalties have been detailed beyond existing federal actions and pending litigation.
Critics argue that labeling these localities as “sanctuary jurisdictions” infringes on local autonomy and public safety strategies tailored to their communities. Supporters of the administration view the list as an essential tool to enforce immigration laws uniformly across the country.
Ongoing Enforcement
The DOJ under Attorney General Bondi has already filed multiple lawsuits against sanctuary jurisdictions, seeking to compel compliance with federal immigration law. The administration continues to coordinate with the Department of Homeland Security to identify jurisdictions that allegedly obstruct immigration enforcement.
While the executive order and DOJ list signal heightened federal pressure, the administration has yet to specify consequences beyond litigation and potential funding restrictions for jurisdictions deemed non-compliant.
This development forms part of broader executive efforts to curb sanctuary policies perceived as enabling illegal immigration and undermining public safety. State and local governments remain divided on how best to balance immigration enforcement with community trust and immigrant protections.