WHITE PLAINS, NY (August 9, 2025) — Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins reiterated that Westchester County is not a sanctuary jurisdiction, following the U.S. Department of Justice’s release of a list identifying 35 states, cities, and counties with policies impeding federal immigration enforcement on August 5, 2025.
The county’s absence from the list aligns with Jenkins’ assertion of compliance with federal and state laws but the Justice Department noted that the list is not exhaustive and will be updated as more information is gathered.
“It comes as no surprise that Westchester County is not on the Sanctuary County list issued by the U.S. Department of Justice,” Jenkins said in a statement. “Westchester County has never been a sanctuary jurisdiction. We have been clear, consistent, and transparent in our approach from the beginning – complying fully with federal and state law while maintaining policies that strengthen public safety and protect the rights of all of our residents.”
The Justice Department’s list, published under Executive Order 14287 signed by President Trump on April 28, 2025, targets jurisdictions with policies that “impede enforcement of federal immigration laws,” according to Attorney General Pamela Bondi. The list includes states like California, New York, and Illinois, counties such as Baltimore County, Maryland, and Cook County, Illinois, and cities including Boston, Chicago, and New York City. Bondi stated, “Sanctuary policies impede law enforcement and put American citizens at risk by design,” emphasizing the department’s intent to pursue litigation against these jurisdictions to enforce compliance.
Jenkins highlighted Westchester’s Immigrant Protection Act, crafted with input from advocates and law enforcement to balance legal compliance with community protection. “Our Immigrant Protection Act was crafted with input from both advocates and law enforcement professionals, to ensure that we both protect our residents and communities, as well as adhere to the law,” Jenkins said. The act was overwhelmingly adopted with bipartisan support by the County Board of Legislators.
“Westchester’s record speaks for itself – we follow the law, we protect our communities, and we will not be distracted by rhetoric that does not reflect our reality,” Jenkins added.
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The following states, cities, and counties have been identified as sanctuary jurisdictions:
STATES
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Illinois
- Minnesota
- Nevada
- New York
- Oregon
- Rhode Island
- Vermont
- Washington
COUNTIES
- Baltimore County, MD
- Cook County, IL
- San Diego County, CA
- San Francisco County, CA
CITIES
- Albuquerque, NM
- Berkeley, CA
- Boston, MA
- Chicago, IL
- Denver, CO
- East Lansing, MI
- Hoboken, NJ
- Jersey City, NJ
- Los Angeles, CA
- New Orleans, LA
- New York City, NY
- Newark, NJ
- Paterson, NJ
- Philadelphia, PA
- Portland, OR
- Rochester, NY
- Seattle, WA
- San Francisco City, CA
This article was drafted with the aid of Grok, an AI tool by xAI, under the direction and editing of Robert Cox to ensure accuracy and adherence to journalistic standards.
