While the concept of cities and places of refuge, or sanctuary cities, is as ancient as history itself, the past few years has given rapid rise to a new, related phenomenon in the U.S.: the anti-sanctuary city movement. As of 2018, over 500 U.S. municipalities and several states have adopted anti-sanctuary city policies.

How do we explain the rapid rise of this movement?

This book examines the social, political, and racial underpinnings of this radical new movement, and what members of targeted communities can do to counteract its corrosive effects. This book accomplishes five goals:

1. Conceptually and descriptively gives form to the anti-sanctuary movement.


2. Identifies trends and reasons for successes and failures of this movement.


3. Draws lessons for social justice advocates in countering this movement.


4. Presents a series of cities illustrating how and why this movement has unfolded in certain geographical areas.


5. Presents recommendations for anticipating the evolution of this movement and countering its destructive impacts in communities where the anti-sanctuary is taking root.