Some northern cities have declared themselves sanctuary cities. There are none in Arizona where we are living.
Because immigrants in the United States have been increasingly vulnerable to raids, detentions, and deportations by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) immigration agents many faith groups as well as some neighbourhoods, campuses, and offices have tried to find ways to advocate for and protect the immigrants in their communities. The practice of sanctuary is one way that faith groups and other communities are trying to protect immigrants from deportation.
A number of candidates for the presidency, including Ron DeSantis while he was still running, and Donald Trump (again) zeroed in on this issue. They are doing that because they have seen how popularity among voters can be achieved. They think they can make liberal politicians look ridiculous. They might be right.
Governor Abbot of Texas launched “Operation Lone Star” in Texas. Things he has done at the border look Texas is preparing for a war. More walls, more barbed wire, and more drones.
Busing to northern states with sanctuary cities has proved popular with right wing voters, and has been driving liberal leaders in the north into apoplexy. Taking care of the immigrants cost their states a lot of money. The Mayor of New York city has said it could bankrupt that city. He has discovered that offering sanctuary to refugees is very expensive.
Governor DeSantis has called what is happening at the southern border “a total disaster.” Even many Democrats appear to agree. DeSantis said, “the cartels are just eating our lunch.” He came up with a very popular plan among Floridians to send migrants to northern liberal sanctuary cities. Fareed Zakari said to do that he duped the undocumented. Immigration lawyer Rachel Self said, “they were the victim of a crime.” Fraud is a crime. A Texas Sheriff said this amounted to “unlawful restraint,” and could warrant criminal charges.
Governor DeSantis said Florida was not a “sanctuary state” and it could help the immigrants to go to one. He also helped pass the most restrictive state immigration law in the US.
What DeSantis did not mention was that this actually cost Florida a lot of money because its immigrant workers were vital to the Florida economy.