Louisville lands on list of ‘sanctuary jurisdictions’
The Department of Homeland Security has accused Louisville of obstructing enforcement of federal immigration laws.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WAVE) - The result of an executive order from President Trump, a strongly worded Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announcement on Thursday accused “sanctuary jurisdictions” of undermining the rule of law and endangering the lives of Americans.
Out of hundreds of local jurisdictions listed from 35 states and the District of Columbia, Louisville is the only city in Kentucky to make the list for allegedly obstructing the enforcement of federal immigration laws.
Taking questions from reporters on Friday, Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg was at a loss to say why.
“We have followed the same policies for the past seven years,” Greenberg said, “since 2018 when the Department of Justice under President Trump’s first administration told our city that we are not a sanctuary jurisdiction.”
DHS said those jurisdictions will receive official notifications of non-compliance. Greenberg said Louisville had not received that notification.
And while the city waits for clarity, the DHS demands for compliance call into question the future of a hundred million dollars in federal grants to pay for transformative projects, including the redevelopment of 9th Street and Broadway.
Greenberg said he has no knowledge of conflict with federal agencies regarding immigration enforcement during his administration.
“Federal immigration, policies and laws are the jurisdiction of the federal government,” Greenberg said. “And so, certainly there is a lot of uncertainty and concern as a result of changes and the administration, and everyone is seeking clarity. My guess is that everyone in Louisville, everyone across the country, is looking for clarity just as we are here today.”
Four Kentucky counties: Jefferson, Franklin, Campbell and Scott, are also listed.
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