Some U.S. states have 'sanctuary' policies that limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement and permit undocumented immigrants to obtain state-issued driver's licenses, including in some cases commercial driver's licenses (CDLs).
November 19, 2025
medium-high
temporal
Describes a persistent policy difference across U.S. states regarding cooperation with federal immigration enforcement and issuance of driver credentials.
Sanctuary policies are local policies that limit cooperation between local authorities and federal immigration enforcement agencies.
November 17, 2025
high
definition
General definition of sanctuary policies as described in reporting on local-federal immigration enforcement relations.
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.
When municipal sanctuary policies bar federal immigration agents from using city-owned property for staging or operations, agents may be forced to prepare and brief operations in public locations (for example, supermarkets, office parks, or parks), which can increase the visibility and exposure of enforcement personnel.
medium
process
Describes a reported operational consequence of restrictions on use of municipal property for enforcement staging.