Dept. of Homeland Security deletes sanctuary list featuring Washington cities, counties

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) website has removed more than 500 jurisdictions that were previously listed as sanctuary cities.

All but four Washington counties were listed on the sanctuary city list, which included Seattle, Tacoma, Everett, Olympia, and Yakima, according to KIRO 7.

Reuters reported that the site received criticism from the National Sheriff’s Union (NSA), and all the information was ultimately deleted from the page. The criticism? Not all jurisdictions on the list believe they’re sanctuaries, though in a Fox Business interview, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem disagreed.

“Some of the cities have pushed back,” Noem said. “They think because they don’t have one law or another on the books that they don’t qualify, but they do qualify. They are giving sanctuary to criminals.”

National Sheriffs Association statement

The National Sheriffs Association (NSA) President, Sheriff Kieran Donohue, released a statement in response to the published list.

“The completion and publication of this list has not only violated the core principles of trust, cooperation, and partnership with fellow law enforcement, but it also has the potential to strain the relationship between Sheriffs and the White House administration,” Donohue wrote.

The National Sheriffs’ Association represents more than 3,000 elected sheriffs across the U.S. and over 10,000 individuals, according to the statement.

“No political appointee for the administration could explain who compiled, proofed, and verified the list before publication,” Donohue wrote. “(DHS) must provide a legitimate reason to evaluate those not cooperating with ICE and other federal law enforcement agencies. These are not just common-sense efforts; they are urgent necessities.”

Donohue included that there must be accountability, and the sheriffs in the U.S. feel betrayed, according to the report.

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