Recent political focus on sanctuary cities has sparked debate over undocumented immigrants and enforcement of federal immigration policy. A number of local governments have limited their cooperation with federal immigration enforcement authorities, and proponents of such jurisdictions argue that in addition to constitutional concerns, victims of crime as well as witnesses will not report incidents to local police for fear of deportation. Others counter that the presence of undocumented immigrants breed criminal activity within communities and that federal mandates take precedent over state and local laws.

In addition to law enforcement and immigration questions, this deliberation triggers a debate about federalism. To what extent do localities have the right to resist federal mandates? Under which circumstances might federal directives to detain undocumented immigrants be deemed an unconstitutional commandeering of state and local resources? Can sanctuary jurisdictions be penalized for their failure to cooperate by withholding federal monies? When is holding back federal funds deemed unconstitutionally coercive?

Objectives and Outcomes

• Students will understand and be able to use vocabulary related to sanctuary cities, immigration enforcement, and federalism.
  
  
• Students will be able to summarize and evaluate the respective roles of state and local powers vs. the federal government in immigration enforcement.
  
  
• Students will deliberate the pros and cons of sanctuary cities and the constitutionality of federal efforts to compel cooperation.