Kristi Noem’s DHS Takes 500 Sanctuary Cities List Offline; ‘They’re Giving Sanctuary to Criminals’ [WATCH]

The Department of Homeland Security has removed from public view a list of 500 jurisdictions labeled as “sanctuary cities” under President Donald Trump’s executive order targeting local governments that impede federal immigration enforcement.

The list, which appeared on the DHS website four days prior, identified localities that the department determined to be noncompliant with federal immigration law.

At the time of its publication, DHS stated that the list would be updated regularly.

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However, by Sunday, the webpage displaying the list was no longer accessible, instead redirecting users to a message reading, “The page may have been moved, deleted, or is otherwise unavailable.”

While the original press release announcing the initiative remains live, the list itself is no longer visible on the department’s website.

Appearing on Fox News’s Sunday Morning Futures, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed the list’s continued existence but did not clarify why it was removed from public access.

“We absolutely do still have the list,” Noem said.

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“Some of the cities have pushed back. 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.”

The list was created in response to President Trump’s executive order directing DHS to identify jurisdictions that, in the administration’s view, fail to cooperate with federal immigration authorities.

These jurisdictions potentially face the loss of federal grants and contracts as a result of their noncompliance.

At the time of the list’s release, Noem issued a statement saying the effort was part of a broader effort to ensure public safety and enforce federal law.

“We are exposing these sanctuary politicians who harbor criminal illegal aliens and defy federal law,” Noem said.

“President Trump and I will always put the safety of the American people first. Sanctuary politicians are on notice: comply with federal law.”

The publication of the list has drawn criticism from some in the law enforcement community.

National Sheriffs’ Association President Kieran Donahue issued a statement on Saturday describing the list as a “disservice” to the more than 3,000 elected sheriffs represented by the organization.

“This list was created without any input, criteria of compliance, or a mechanism for how to object to the designation,” Donahue said.

“Sheriffs nationwide have no way to know what they must do or not do to avoid this arbitrary label.”

Donahue warned that the release of the list risks undermining collaboration between federal and local law enforcement.

“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,” he said.

“This is an unfortunate and unnecessary erosion of unity and collaboration with law enforcement and the enforcement of the rule of law at a time when that unity is needed most.”

As of now, DHS has not provided an explanation for the removal of the list from public access. It remains unclear whether it will be reposted or revised.

The administration has not indicated any change in policy regarding the enforcement of the executive order or the potential loss of federal funding for the named jurisdictions.

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