AI Overview
Sanctuary cities started in the 1980s as a religious-led movement (the "Sanctuary Movement") to protect Central American refugees fleeing civil wars, with cities like San Francisco formalizing policies in the late 80s (e.g., 1989) to limit local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, after the Reagan administration denied asylum to most fleeing El Salvador and Guatemala, classifying them as economic migrants instead. The goal was to provide humanitarian aid and resist federal policies deemed unjust, a tradition rooted in biblical sanctuary principles.
When They Started
*Early 1980s: The religious-led Sanctuary Movement began, with churches hiding refugees from Central America.
*1985: San Francisco passed a symbolic "City of Refuge" resolution.
*1989: San Francisco enacted Ordinance No. 12-h, the first formal policy limiting city funds/resources from aiding federal immigration enforcement.
*Mid-to-late 1980s: Other cities like Berkeley, Los Angeles, and Chicago followed with similar policies, growing from the church movement.
Why They Started
*Civil Wars in Central America: Thousands fled violence in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Nicaragua.
*Restrictive Federal Policy: The Reagan administration denied asylum to most, deeming them "economic migrants" rather than refugees fleeing war, leading to detention and deportation, often to danger.
*Humanitarian Response: Religious groups and activists, seeing human rights violations, sought to provide aid and challenge federal actions.
*Biblical Tradition: The movement drew on historical and religious concepts of sanctuary, offering refuge from unjust persecution.
Core Actions of Sanctuary Policies
*Prohibit local police from inquiring about immigration status.
*Limit sharing of information with federal immigration authorities (ICE).
*Deny requests for prolonged detention of immigrants for federal purposes.
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