‘Surprised’: Madera says it’s not a sanctuary city after Homeland Security claims it is

MADERA, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – The City of Madera has joined the City of Fresno in refuting claims made by the federal Department of Homeland Security that it is also a sanctuary jurisdiction.

In a statement to YourCentralValley.com, the City of Madera said it was “surprised” to see its name on a list entitled “Sanctuary Jurisdictions Defying Federal Immigration Law” published by Homeland Security. The City of Fresno, which was on the list as well, has also clarified that it is not a sanctuary city either.

The list published by the department includes more than 500 jurisdictions as part of the executive order “Protecting American Communities from Criminal Aliens,” which, according to federal officials, are sanctuary jurisdictions that are “deliberately and shamefully obstructing the enforcement of federal immigration laws endangering American communities.”

“At no point has the City of Madera declared itself a sanctuary city, and it remains compliant with federal law,” wrote city officials in a statement.

In the statement sent Friday, the City of Madera said that the City Council responded to community concerns earlier this year by directing staff to review current policies, ensuring consistency with existing law, and subsequently adopting a resolution affirming the sovereignty of the law.

The resolution made clear that the law applies to all members of the community, and that the purpose of local law enforcement is to protect the community from crime. It also recognized the importance of integrating immigrant communities, and the belief that a community is strongest when everyone feels welcome and safe.

The resolution expressed the City’s intent to treat all individuals equally—regardless of color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, immigration status, national origin, race, ethnicity, or English proficiency—as authorized by law.
City of Madera

That resolution ended with the City of Madera declaring itself a welcoming city – but not a sanctuary city (the distinction being that a sanctuary city has policies limiting cooperation with federal immigration officials; a welcoming city focuses more on creating inclusive policies).

The City of Madera added that its staff “seek answers from DHS” about how this designation was determined.