TOMPKINS COUNTY, NY -In response to President Donald Trump's State of the Union address and his call for Congress to abolish sanctuary cities, Tompkins County's leaders are standing strong in their commitments to immigrant communities.
In his February 24, 2026, address, Trump called for an end to sanctuary cities across the nation, claiming they protect dangerous criminals. He also proposed severe penalties for officials who obstruct the deportation of non-citizens, Ithaca.com reported.
"That is why I'm also asking you to end deadly sanctuary cities that protect the criminals and enact serious penalties for public officials who block the removal of criminal aliens, in many cases, drug lords, murderers all over our country," President Trump said. "They're blocking the removal of these people out of our country."
Since re-entering the Oval Office, President Trump has renewed threats to withhold billions in federal law enforcement grants from cities and states that refuse to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. He did this back in 2017, but his attempt was struck down by the courts.
In February 2025, the Ithaca Common Council passed a resolution reaffirming its sanctuary city status, which was originally established in 2017. The resolution limits local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement and protects residents' access to reproductive and gender-affirming care ahead of anticipated federal crackdowns.
In 2017, Tompkins County established its own "Public Safety for All" framework, which prohibits the use of county resources for federal civil immigration enforcement, including stopping or detaining individuals based solely on immigration status. The resolution explicitly allows cooperation for criminal investigations, terrorism threats, or when federal agents provide a judicial warrant.
Other than Ithaca and Tompkins County, sanctuary jurisdictions in New York state include the cities of New York, Buffalo, Albany, and Rochester, and the counties of Albany and Westchester.
Sanctuary policies protect individuals from being detained solely over their immigration status, but do not shield them from arrest or prosecution for criminal offenses. According to the Vera Institute of Justice, sanctuary policies comply with federal law, as the 10th Amendment generally prohibits the federal government from forcing local jurisdictions to perform immigration enforcement.
In response to the president's threat of serious penalties for sanctuary policies, Legislature Chair Shawna black stated that the county remains committed to its welcoming status by operating within its legal rights and maintaining transparent communication with constituents.
Black affirmed the county remains committed to its 2017 resolution. Black said the legislature will navigate any federal policy changes as they arise, working through the resulting issues and addressing them.
"We are a strong community full of generous people and hard-working non-profits,” Black said. “We have also been fiscally responsible for many years, and when we are faced with adversity, we are able to manage it. During the pandemic, we were one of the first counties in the state to offer COVID testing and vaccines.”
"I have no doubt that if we were faced with difficult situations, our community would come together and we would be stronger for it,” Black said.
Tompkins County Sheriff Derek Osborne confirmed that his office does not participate in the arrest of undocumented individuals, explaining that immigration enforcement falls strictly under federal jurisdiction and that the 10th Amendment prevents local law enforcement from being compelled to perform such federal duties.
Sheriff Osborne also confirmed that the Tompkins County Jail does not honor ICE detainers or hold individuals beyond their local sentencing periods.
"ICE detainers are not legally binding and are typically only signed by an ICE officer,” Osborne said. “We follow NYS Law and our local sanctuary policy.”
Osborne clarified that while his office does not obstruct federal agents from serving active warrants at any time, local deputies will not perform immigration enforcement duties on their behalf. "We do not experience many criminal matters locally involving immigrants,” Osborne said. “We rarely see an immigrant incarcerated in our local jail.”
Ithaca Welcomes Refugees Executive Director Casey Verderosa challenged the administration's characterization of sanctuary cities, asserting that data show lower crime rates in such jurisdictions compared to non-sanctuary areas.
Verderosa said Trump's rhetoric regarding criminal activity among immigrants is factually incorrect and socially irresponsible, as it fosters public suspicion and hostility toward those who appear or sound foreign.
"The president's anti-immigrant and anti-sanctuary city rhetoric has actually galvanized support for organizations like IWR,” Verderosa said. “This community has become defiant in the face of tyranny, rather than being intimidated into meekness, and on behalf of our refugee partners, I am so proud and so grateful."
In his February 24, 2026, address, Trump called for an end to sanctuary cities across the nation, claiming they protect dangerous criminals. He also proposed severe penalties for officials who obstruct the deportation of non-citizens, Ithaca.com reported.
"That is why I'm also asking you to end deadly sanctuary cities that protect the criminals and enact serious penalties for public officials who block the removal of criminal aliens, in many cases, drug lords, murderers all over our country," President Trump said. "They're blocking the removal of these people out of our country."
Since re-entering the Oval Office, President Trump has renewed threats to withhold billions in federal law enforcement grants from cities and states that refuse to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. He did this back in 2017, but his attempt was struck down by the courts.
In February 2025, the Ithaca Common Council passed a resolution reaffirming its sanctuary city status, which was originally established in 2017. The resolution limits local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement and protects residents' access to reproductive and gender-affirming care ahead of anticipated federal crackdowns.
In 2017, Tompkins County established its own "Public Safety for All" framework, which prohibits the use of county resources for federal civil immigration enforcement, including stopping or detaining individuals based solely on immigration status. The resolution explicitly allows cooperation for criminal investigations, terrorism threats, or when federal agents provide a judicial warrant.
Other than Ithaca and Tompkins County, sanctuary jurisdictions in New York state include the cities of New York, Buffalo, Albany, and Rochester, and the counties of Albany and Westchester.
Sanctuary policies protect individuals from being detained solely over their immigration status, but do not shield them from arrest or prosecution for criminal offenses. According to the Vera Institute of Justice, sanctuary policies comply with federal law, as the 10th Amendment generally prohibits the federal government from forcing local jurisdictions to perform immigration enforcement.
In response to the president's threat of serious penalties for sanctuary policies, Legislature Chair Shawna black stated that the county remains committed to its welcoming status by operating within its legal rights and maintaining transparent communication with constituents.
Black affirmed the county remains committed to its 2017 resolution. Black said the legislature will navigate any federal policy changes as they arise, working through the resulting issues and addressing them.
"We are a strong community full of generous people and hard-working non-profits,” Black said. “We have also been fiscally responsible for many years, and when we are faced with adversity, we are able to manage it. During the pandemic, we were one of the first counties in the state to offer COVID testing and vaccines.”
"I have no doubt that if we were faced with difficult situations, our community would come together and we would be stronger for it,” Black said.
Tompkins County Sheriff Derek Osborne confirmed that his office does not participate in the arrest of undocumented individuals, explaining that immigration enforcement falls strictly under federal jurisdiction and that the 10th Amendment prevents local law enforcement from being compelled to perform such federal duties.
Sheriff Osborne also confirmed that the Tompkins County Jail does not honor ICE detainers or hold individuals beyond their local sentencing periods.
"ICE detainers are not legally binding and are typically only signed by an ICE officer,” Osborne said. “We follow NYS Law and our local sanctuary policy.”
Osborne clarified that while his office does not obstruct federal agents from serving active warrants at any time, local deputies will not perform immigration enforcement duties on their behalf. "We do not experience many criminal matters locally involving immigrants,” Osborne said. “We rarely see an immigrant incarcerated in our local jail.”
Ithaca Welcomes Refugees Executive Director Casey Verderosa challenged the administration's characterization of sanctuary cities, asserting that data show lower crime rates in such jurisdictions compared to non-sanctuary areas.
Verderosa said Trump's rhetoric regarding criminal activity among immigrants is factually incorrect and socially irresponsible, as it fosters public suspicion and hostility toward those who appear or sound foreign.
"The president's anti-immigrant and anti-sanctuary city rhetoric has actually galvanized support for organizations like IWR,” Verderosa said. “This community has become defiant in the face of tyranny, rather than being intimidated into meekness, and on behalf of our refugee partners, I am so proud and so grateful."
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