How Did Chicago Become a Sanctuary City and What Does It Mean?

Описание: For four decades, Chicago has held the designation of a sanctuary city — but what does it mean, and how has Chicago’s status endured?
The term sanctuary city refers to any jurisdiction that discourages, limits or denies cooperation with federal immigration authorities. There are currently hundreds of sanctuary communities in America and 13 sanctuary states.
Where did it come from?

While Berkeley, California, claimed the title of first sanctuary city in 1971, the sanctuary city movement really began popping up across the country in the mid-1980s. As President Ronald Reagan focused on identifying and deporting undocumented immigrants, churches opened their doors to provide shelter and resources to Central Americans fleeing civil war and violence.

In Chicago, becoming and remaining a sanctuary city has been a bit of a mayoral tug of war.

Mayor Harold Washington first declared Chicago a sanctuary city in 1985 via executive order.

The order prohibited police and city employees from questioning residents about their immigration status and terminated cooperation with federal immigration authorities.

Some argued the policy shielded convicted criminals from deportation, and in the 1990s, Mayor Richard M. Daley interpreted the policy to allow city officials to provide immigration information to the feds if the subjects were involved in serious crimes.

Chicago’s sanctuary policies went from executive order to a strong law with the 2006 Welcoming City ordinance. In 2012, Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the City Council weakened the law, allowing police to work with federal officials in limited cases.

Upon election in 2016, President Donald Trump threatened sanctuary cities with the loss of federal dollars. Nevertheless, the Chicago City Council voted to reaffirm the ordinance.

Under Mayor Lori Lightfoot, an expanded Welcoming City ordinance closed the loopholes opened by Daley and Emanuel, banning all police cooperation with federal immigration authorities.

As Chicago enters its 40th year as a sanctuary city, Mayor Brandon Johnson has reaffirmed Chicago’s commitment. Today thousands of refugees and undocumented immigrants have found a safe haven in Chicago — a point of pride for those who believe offering sanctuary is a matter of human rights and a point of consternation for those who see it as a hurdle for law enforcement.
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