You are invited to a community discussion entitled “Sanctuary Cities in NJ: Can the Federal Government Require Towns to Assist in Deporting Undocumented Residents?”  The featured speaker will be Ms. Dianna Houenou, Policy Counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of New Jersey. 

The discussion will center around President Trump’s executive order that cuts funding to state and local governments that refuse to cooperate with federal immigration officials in deporting undocumented residents.  There are now approximately 170 jurisdictions in the U.S. classified as sanctuary cities, including several in New Jersey.  In the broadest sense, a sanctuary city is one that refuses to use local funding/resources to help federal immigration officials deport undocumented residents. 

Does the federal government have the constitutional authority to commandeer state and local police to help enforce federal immigration laws, or is this a violation of states’ rights?   Let’s talk about it.  This event is co-sponsored by the Office of the Provost, the Department of Political Science and Sociology, and MU’s Debate team.