Synopsis
Sanctuary Cities: The Politics of Refuge, co-authored by Loren Collingwood and Benjamin Gonzalez O’Brien, offers a comprehensive examination of the history, evolution, and societal impact of sanctuary city policies in the United States, with a focus on their role in the broader debate over undocumented immigration. Published in 2019 by Oxford University Press, the book traces the origins of sanctuary policies back to the 1980s, when the Sanctuary Movement emerged as a faith-based effort to protect Central American refugees fleeing violence in countries like El Salvador and Guatemala. Sparked by events such as the 1983 resolution in Madison, Wisconsin, which commended churches for sheltering refugees, and later formalized in 1985 as the city declared itself a sanctuary, these policies grew to encompass over 200 localities by limiting local officials’ cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, such as declining detainer requests from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The authors highlight how these policies, initially rooted in religious and moral imperatives, became a lightning rod for political controversy, particularly following high-profile incidents like the 2015 shooting of Kathryn Steinle by an undocumented immigrant in San Francisco, which fueled narratives linking sanctuary cities to crime.
Collingwood and Gonzalez O’Brien meticulously analyze the evolution of sanctuary policies from the 1980s to the 2010s, exploring how media coverage, public opinion, and political rhetoric have shaped perceptions of these jurisdictions. They examine over 1,500 media pieces, revealing a shift from sympathetic portrayals of the Sanctuary Movement in the 1980s, which emphasized human rights and morality, to a more crime-focused narrative in the 2010s, amplified by events like the Steinle shooting and the presidency of Donald Trump. The authors debunk claims that sanctuary cities “breed crime,” using rigorous statistical analysis to demonstrate no discernible increase in violent crime, rape, or property crime rates in sanctuary cities compared to non-sanctuary cities. Instead, they argue that these policies foster greater trust between immigrant communities and local law enforcement, leading to increased crime reporting and better integration of immigrants into the social and political fabric of cities, evidenced by higher Latino voter turnout and police force representation in sanctuary jurisdictions.
The book also delves into the polarized public opinion surrounding sanctuary cities, showing how attitudes have become increasingly partisan. From 2015 to 2017, Democrats grew more supportive of sanctuary policies, while Republicans, influenced by anecdotal links between violent crime and undocumented immigration, became more opposed. This polarization, the authors argue, is driven not by empirical evidence but by partisanship and demographic changes, particularly in states with growing Latino populations like Texas, where Republican legislators have pushed anti-sanctuary legislation to preempt local immigrant-friendly initiatives. The authors critique these anti-sanctuary laws, noting their potential to erode community trust in law enforcement, as seen in places like El Paso, where residents in areas with large noncitizen populations became less likely to report crimes after restrictive state laws were enacted.
Ultimately, Sanctuary Cities: The Politics of Refuge presents a compelling case for the benefits of sanctuary policies, arguing they provide critical protections for immigrants without the negative consequences often claimed by opponents. The authors draw on a wealth of data, including public opinion surveys, crime statistics, and historical records, to challenge conservative narratives and highlight the positive outcomes of sanctuary policies, such as enhanced civic engagement and community safety. Praised for its accessible narrative and robust methodology, the book is positioned as a vital resource for scholars, policymakers, and advocates seeking to understand and defend sanctuary cities. Collingwood and Gonzalez O’Brien aim to reframe the national conversation, offering a historically grounded and empirically supported perspective that underscores the humanitarian and practical value of these policies in fostering inclusive communities.