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Laura Madokoro, Associate Professor of History, Carleton University

Sanctuary cities in the US were born in the 1980s as Central American refugees fled civil wars

Protesters outside the federal courthouse in San Antonio, Texas, rally to oppose a Texas 'anti-sanctuary cities' bill on June 26, 2017. AP Photo/Eric Gay

Sanctuary cities in the United States, which limit local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, have drawn the ire of President Donald Trump during both of his administrations.

Border czar Tom Homan said in July 2025 that the Trump administration would target sanctuary cities across the country and “flood the zone” with agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to pursue deportation goals.

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