(The Center Square) – Eleven counties and five cities in Pennsylvania found themselves on the federal government’s sanction list for “deliberately and shamefully obstructing” immigration laws in the United States.
The counties include Adams, Allegheny, Centre, Chester, Clarion, Dauphin, Delaware, Lehigh, Montgomery, Montour and Northampton. The five cities include Gettysburg, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, State College and York.
Homeland Security, led by Secretary Kristi Noem, made the release Thursday evening. It said the executive order of second-term Republican President Donald Trump – Protecting American Communities from Criminal Aliens – requires the publishing of the list of state and local jurisdictions that obstruct enforcement of federal immigration law.
A release from Homeland Security says in part, “Sanctuary jurisdictions including cities, counties, and states that are deliberately and shamefully obstructing the enforcement of federal immigration laws endangering American communities. Sanctuary cities protect dangerous criminal aliens from facing consequences and put law enforcement in peril.”
The list was created, it says, “to identify sanctuary jurisdictions, which are determined by factors like compliance with federal law enforcement, information restrictions, and legal protections for illegal aliens.
“Each jurisdiction listed will receive formal notification of its noncompliance with Federal statutes. DHS demands that these jurisdictions immediately review and revise their policies to align with Federal immigration laws and renew their obligation to protect American citizens, not dangerous illegal aliens.”
The release says the list will be updated regularly.
