Sanctuary city

A sanctuary city is a municipality that limits or denies its cooperation with the national government in enforcing immigration law.

A city's council and mayor will usually declare itself a sanctuary city and subsequently enact measures and policies that are welcoming and favorable to migrants. Sanctuary cities undertake the responsibilities of receiving and processing an influx of migrants, and providing services and resources for them to acclimate and live in the country and communities in which they arrive.

Proponents of sanctuary cities cite motives such as reducing migrants' fears of deportation, separating of migrant families, reporting crimes, using health and social services, and enrolling their children into public school.

Studies on the relationship between sanctuary status and crime have found that sanctuary policies either have no effect on crime or that sanctuary cities have lower crime rates and stronger economies than comparable non-sanctuary cities.^[1][2][3][4] Sanctuary city policies substantially reduce deportations of undocumented immigrants who do not have criminal records, but have no impact on those who have violent criminal records.^[5] Opponents of sanctuary cities argue that cities should assist the national government in enforcing immigration law, and that sanctuary cities increase crime. Supporters of sanctuary cities argue that enforcement of federal law is not the duty of localities, and that law enforcement resources can be prioritized towards better purposes.^[6]

European cities have been inspired by the same political currents of the sanctuary movement as American cities, but the term "sanctuary city" now has different meanings in Europe and North America.^[7] In the United Kingdom and in continental Europe, sanctuary city refers to cities that are committed to welcoming refugees and asylum seekers. There are at least 80 towns, cities, and local areas with this policy in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland,^[8] with an emphasis on building bridges of connection and understanding through raising awareness, befriending schemes^{[clarification needed]} and forming cultural connections. However, this is in relation to documented refugees and asylum seekers, not illegal immigrants.^[9] Glasgow and Swansea have become noted sanctuary cities.^[8][10][11]