DHS Sanctuary City List: Errors & Intent
- A Department of Homeland Security list identifying sanctuary jurisdictions is under fire for inaccuracies and omissions.
- One glaring error is the inclusion of Huntington Beach, Calif., a city with an all-Republican council that has actively opposed sanctuary policies.
- Meanwhile, Santa Ana, Calif., a city long associated with undocumented immigrants and which declared itself a sanctuary city in 2016, is absent from the list.
The flawed Department of Homeland Security list identifying sanctuary jurisdictions is sparking intense criticism. This list, spotlighting cities and counties, is riddled with important errors, notably including Huntington Beach, CA, which actively opposes sanctuary status. News Directory 3 has learned that the list’s inaccuracies extend beyond this,with Santa Ana,a declared sanctuary city,missing entirely,alongside the inclusion of Represa,CA,which is not a city. These oversights, coupled with othre omissions and incorrect listings, fuel allegations of a haphazard compilation process. Critics claim the list reflects an administration’s overzealous approach to immigration enforcement. The publication has learned that the list is under review. Discover what’s next as the controversy unfolds.
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Flawed Sanctuary Jurisdiction List Draws Criticism
Updated June 3, 2025
A Department of Homeland Security list identifying sanctuary jurisdictions is under fire for inaccuracies and omissions. The list, briefly posted online in May before being removed, has been criticized as emblematic of the Trump administration’s approach to immigration enforcement.
One glaring error is the inclusion of Huntington Beach, Calif., a city with an all-Republican council that has actively opposed sanctuary policies. Huntington Beach even declared itself a “non-sanctuary” community and is suing the state over its sanctuary laws.
Meanwhile, Santa Ana, Calif., a city long associated with undocumented immigrants and which declared itself a sanctuary city in 2016, is absent from the list. Santa Ana even has a deportation defence fund for its residents.
other inaccuracies include the omission of Livingston, Calif., the first city in the Central Valley to declare itself a sanctuary for immigrants in 2017, and the inclusion of Santee, Calif., a city known for its history of racism.
Represa, Calif., also appears on the list, but it is not a city. It is the name of the post office for Folsom State Prison and California State Prison, Sacramento.
The list was released following an executive order by President Donald Trump stating that sanctuary jurisdictions should no longer receive federal funds. Critics argue the list was hastily compiled and reflects the administration’s obsession with immigration.
Huntington Beach Mayor Pat Burns called the city’s inclusion “pure negligence.” Vista, Calif., Mayor John Franklin suggested his city was mistakenly included due to a similar name to Chula Vista, calif., which is also incorrectly listed.
rep. Lou Correa,D-Calif., said he advised Santa Ana officials to downplay their sanctuary city status.
Critics say the flawed list is part of a pattern of aggressive immigration enforcement tactics, including deportations, shipping immigrants to countries they have no ties to, and attempting to apprehend people in sensitive locations like schools and places of worship.
Deportation rates remain lower than in some years under the Obama and biden administrations. Homeland Security did not respond to requests for comment,but a spokesperson said the list is under review and will be updated regularly.
What’s next
The future of the sanctuary jurisdiction list remains uncertain, but the controversy highlights the ongoing debate over immigration policy and enforcement in the United States.