Is Louisville a Sanctuary City?
Vinny Starks
3/28/2025
There are no laws to support or deny sanctuary cities…yet.
Senator James Comer would have you believe that a Mayor being noncompliant with federal agents “is against the law.” The current administration, both federal and state, are actively seeking to abolish or penalize the ability for cities to be considered a sanctuary for undocumented people. They're doing this by cutting funding to anything they believe is related to supporting the undocumented population within the states—programs that a simple search would reveal that no undocumented person would be able to receive—and even seeking to use other federal agencies and departments, such as the IRS, to aid in the deportation of undocumented people. Why are they attacking this ideal? What makes a sanctuary city? And, more importantly, what are some things you can do to support and maintain your city?
A sanctuary city is simply a city that refuses to cooperate with federal authority in order to seek and remove undocumented people from their borders. Typically sanctuary comes in the form of a church or holy place, but religion isn't the only place people can be found to gather peacefully. Undocumented people can find welcoming neighbors in churches that share in their spiritual beliefs. Finding a place to rest and gather their strength before continuing on their journey, or better yet, finding a welcoming home with members that gladly welcome them into their community while shielding them from the onslaught of persecution. In no way does it mean that ICE isn't allowed to operate within those cities. For instance, immigration services claim to have conducted a mass arrest on March 18, 2025, here in Louisville of 81 undocumented people. They claim that undocumented people are a threat to job security, but documents are necessary to obtain a job in Kentucky. In response to those arrests, LMPD held a press conference where Chief Humphrey stated that “we don't have the intent or the authority to enforce immigration orders”. An easy proclamation, but not a condemnation of ICE. Shortly after the Presidential Election, JCPS instructed teachers and staff to call LMPD if and when confronted with ICE. This is in line with the opinion of Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg, who has also stated that LMPD should cooperate with ICE in all of their efforts, as expressed in an interview with the Courier Journal.
It's not like undocumented immigrants don't pay taxes or negatively affect crime rates. In fact, studies suggest that sanctuary cities are ultimately safer than any other city, as cited by a 2017 report by the Center for American Progress. It’s easy enough to grab a “Crime Times” magazine from the corner store and go through page by page to see how many people that have been arrested recently are undocumented. A point to remember: People fleeing oppression are doing their best to stay out of trouble and stay out of sight. We witnessed how Jewish people attempted to flee oppression in the 1940s. Today, the usual reason people are fleeing to the states is because of economic hardships or warfare brought to their home by the U.S. Officially, neither Louisville nor Kentucky are considered sanctuary city/state. It shouldn't be the politicians or police who define what sanctuary cities look like, though, and it shouldn't stop you from doing what's morally correct. It's up to you, the citizens who reside in those cities. Those citizens who are ready and willing to take their power back!
We know undocumented people aren't to blame for an increase in crime, for withdrawing benefits they're not offered, or for taking our jobs, so why are they being attacked? Bullies always target the weak. Democrats and Republicans both target undocumented people in order to maintain their stranglehold on power. All of this behavior from our duly elected officials and their lap dogs is deplorable—reports are already coming in from the holding facilities where the undocumented have been sent that are massive human rights violations resulting in death. It's important to remember that this behavior is not uncommon. The standard operating practice for the U.S. has always been to exploit and extract the most out of the marginalized and then throw what remains away in order to protect the white power structures that hold power. We really haven't come that far from the industrial era, and until we eradicate bigotry and exploitation from our society, it will continue to happen. These efforts are designed to keep the working class divided and fearful of one another instead of united and angry at the actual systems of oppression.
So, what's the role of a citizen in a sanctuary city? It's to be kind to your neighbor, to offer them shelter. To keep your mouth shut when the authorities come looking, to share food and medicine. And ultimately, it's to fight oppression by warning neighbors when they're in danger and confronting opposition head-on—recording it on your phone doesn't count. In the courts, in the workplace, in the supermarket. Be ready to protect people just trying to survive. If you see someone struggling while you're not, then try and assist. A little bit goes a long way in this capitalist nightmare we call reality; life is hard for everyone. To become someone's sanctuary is revolutionary behavior. Are you ready?