Federal immigration enforcement operations can deploy specialized equipment and units, including armored vehicles and special operations teams.
November 19, 2025
high
operational
Identifies types of resources and units that may be requested or used in federal immigration operations.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) carry out immigration enforcement activities that can include stopping vehicles, detaining individuals, and making arrests.
November 15, 2025
high
operational
General description of enforcement activities performed by federal immigration agencies.
State and local officials may publicly challenge or oppose federal immigration enforcement actions and can allege practices such as racial profiling.
October 28, 2025
high
political
Describes a recurring pattern of intergovernmental disagreement over federal enforcement activities.
Some U.S. localities are described as 'sanctuary jurisdictions' when they limit or refuse to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement efforts.
October 17, 2025
high
general
Defines a municipal policy stance toward federal immigration enforcement.
Municipal executives (mayors) can issue executive orders that direct municipal agencies to prohibit the use of city-owned property as staging areas, processing locations, or operational bases for federal immigration enforcement actions.
October 06, 2025
high
procedural
Describes a type of local policy mechanism used to limit the use of municipal property for federal enforcement operations.
Sanctuary policies are municipal or local-government policies that restrict or prohibit local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, including measures that bar federal agents from using city-owned property or local law enforcement resources for immigration operations.
high
definition
Describes the general nature and scope of sanctuary policies as a policy category.
Federal immigration enforcement operations sometimes use municipal properties such as police departments, city parking lots, garages, or other city-owned facilities as staging areas, processing locations, or operational bases.
high
policy
Describes common operational practices used in immigration enforcement.
Sanctuary city ordinances can require the creation of policies, training programs, and resources to guide how municipal staff handle interactions with immigration agents and can establish frameworks for tracking, responding to, and resisting federal immigration enforcement actions.
high
policy
Describes common components and purposes of municipal sanctuary ordinances.
A 'sanctuary jurisdiction' is a local government jurisdiction that limits its cooperation with federal immigration enforcement authorities.
high
definition
General definition of the term as used in U.S. policy and political debates.
Sanctuary city policies are designed to protect immigrants who reside in a city by restricting certain forms of cooperation with federal immigration enforcement beyond specified serious crimes.
high
policy
General description of the purpose and design of sanctuary city policies.