ICE x immigrants: what sanctuary cities are and why they came into Trump’s sights

The week begins with high tension in Minneapolis after the death of an American citizen by federal immigration agents. The President of the United States, Donald Trump, wants Congress to pass a law to eliminate so-called “sanctuary cities”, the White House said on Monday (26). These policies limit cooperation between local authorities and federal immigration agencies. ✅ Follow the g1 international news channel on WhatsApp The offensive takes place amid a climate of tension in Minneapolis, following the death of nurse Alex Pretti. An American citizen, he was shot during an anti-immigration operation on Saturday (24). Minneapolis is one of the country’s sanctuary cities and has a large number of immigrants. In recent weeks, the region has been the target of operations by immigration authorities. The actions provoked popular outrage and a series of protests, mainly due to the violence. ▶️ But after all, what are sanctuary cities? The term is used to define cities that adopt more tolerant policies towards undocumented immigrants. In practice, this often means that local authorities, such as police, do not collaborate with federal agents to identify, detain, or deport undocumented people. There is no federal law regulating sanctuary cities. The classification is symbolic in nature and varies depending on the location. The term “sanctuary” originates from the Middle Ages, when churches and monasteries offered shelter to persecuted people. In the United States, it came into use at the end of the 20th century, when religious groups and activists helped immigrants from Central America escape dictatorial regimes. New York, Los Angeles and Chicago are among the best-known examples. In many of these cities, police officers are not required to check a detained person’s immigration status or immediately notify the federal government when someone is arrested. This, however, does not prevent immigration agents from acting. According to sociologist Ernesto Castañeda, director of the Immigration Laboratory at American University in Washington, the modern idea of ​​a sanctuary city functions as a political self-declaration. “There is no legal definition. There is no federal law on ‘sanctuary’. It is a concept applied on a case-by-case basis, with a focus on tolerating foreign and undocumented populations,” he told the BBC in an interview in 2025. Sanctuary cities have come into Trump’s sights since his return to the White House. On January 14 of this year, before Pretti’s death, the president stated that he would cut federal resources from states that maintain this type of policy. Trump had already tried a similar measure in his first term, but the initiative was blocked by the courts. Even so, the government pressed again and published a list of “sanctuary jurisdictions”. Around 160 million people live in these areas. Throughout 2025, the government intensified ICE raids in sanctuary cities. Chicago was one of the first targets, followed by operations in Los Angeles and actions also registered in Atlanta, Denver, Miami and San Antonio. READ ALSO Gregory Bovino: head of anti-immigration operation in the US is removed from office after the death of a nurse, says agency Death of protester in Minnesota opposes pro-gun groups and Trump government Tehran installs giant billboard with bombed aircraft carrier and sends message to the US: ‘He who sows wind reaps storm’ People gather around an improvised memorial at the place where Alex Pretti was killed, in Minneapolis, on January 24, 2026 REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein VIDEOS: most watched on g1

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