'Sanctuary jurisdictions' list featuring Oregon, Washington removed from DHS website
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Days after publishing a list of what the Trump administration called “sanctuary jurisdictions,” the Department of Homeland Security has removed that list from its website.
The list was for cities, states and counties that the White House says were refusing to enforce national immigration laws. President Donald Trump has criticized sanctuary states and cities, claiming their policies of not enforcing immigration law put the safety of American citizens in jeopardy.
The removal comes after the DHS received widespread criticism for including locations that supported the Trump administration's policies on immigration.
Locations included the entire states of Oregon and Washington, along with numerous cities and counties in the Pacific Northwest. Before the list was removed, the DHS said each jurisdiction identified would receive formal notification of not complying with federal status, demanding they review and revise their policies.
The list came on the heels of an executive order in late April from President Donald Trump, which threatened to cancel federal funds to sanctuary cities.
Portland City Council President Elena Pirtle-Guiney told KOIN 6 News at the time that the executive order “appears to me to be just another attempt to try to bully Portland, Oregon, and other cities and states around the country into enforcing federal immigration laws when our law enforcement needs to be focused on local issues.”
Stay with KOIN 6 News as this story develops.