Are Carve-Outs Killing the Spirit of Sanctuary Cities? A Comparative Analysis of Chicago and Oak Park’s Sanctuary Policies, 52 UIC J. Marshall L. Rev. 395 (2019)

Authors

Ana Torres

Abstract

In the United States, undocumented immigrants often shy away from accessing public services due to fear of deportation. Chicago and Oak Park have passed ordinances commonly known as “sanctuary policies,” which seek to promote trust between immigrant communities and local law enforcement in order to lower crime rates and increase public safety. The rationale is that undocumented immigrants will feel more confident to report crimes and utilize public and social services without fear of repercussions. Sanctuary policies strive to create basic protections for undocumented immigrants at a local level by limiting cooperation with the federal government. However, many sanctuary policies are inadequate because they contain carve-outs that leave many undocumented populations unprotected. This comment analyzes Chicago and Oak Park’s sanctuary policies. It proposes amendments to Chicago’s Welcoming City ordinance and utilizes Oak Park’s Welcoming Village ordinance as a model for such changes.

Recommended Citation

Ana Torres, Are Carve-Outs Killing the Spirit of Sanctuary Cities? A Comparative Analysis of Chicago and Oak Park’s Sanctuary Policies, 52 UIC J. Marshall L. Rev. 395 (2019)