With the recent election of President Trump, municipalities across the U.S. face a renewed urgency to shape immigration policy by resisting federal policing, expanding protections from deportation, and ensuring that immigrants, regardless of their status, can thrive in their communities. Existing sanctuary policies, limits on detainer requests, and safeguarding private data from immigration policing illustrate the critical role local governments can play in pushing back against federal immigration policies. With Republicans now controlling all three branches of the federal government, the responsibility—and opportunity—for municipalities to protect immigrants from an increasingly hostile national policy is greater than ever. Beyond protection, cities also have the power to enact policies that allow immigrants to thrive and fully participate in civic life. By defending and expanding policies that include all residents, regardless of immigration status, cities lay essential groundwork for broad cultural and political change.

The current political climate demands bold action. Since the creation of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in 2002, there has been a steady expansion of detention centers, increased surveillance, and aggressive enforcement targeting immigrants. Under President Trump’s first administration, these efforts intensified, fueled by MAGA rhetoric that promoted xenophobia and harmful policies. Now, with the former President returning to office, there is a renewed commitment to aggressive immigration policing, with plans for mass deportations that rely on collaboration with  local police, financial penalties for Sanctuary Cities, the roll back of programs like DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) and TPS (Temporary Protective Status), and even the possible removal of birthright citizenship.  In this climate, states already exerting control over immigration enforcement, like Texas under Governor Greg Abbott, are likely to feel further emboldened, affecting immigrant communities within the state and across the country. Abbott’s strategy of busing asylum seekers to cities like New York and Chicago, for example, has already strained local resources, compelling these cities to provide services amid heightened political opposition and racial tensions. In the face of these mounting threats, localities that value civil rights and human rights must step up, adopting resilient policies that defend immigrant communities and uphold the dignity of all their residents.

Cities must push back, not just by offering protection, but also by enacting policies that enable immigrants to thrive and fully participate in civic life. This toolkit is guided by the fundamental belief that migration is a human right. If capital can move freely across borders, so should people. Many immigrants are fleeing conditions created or worsened by multinational corporations, foreign political intervention, or impacts of the climate crisis. In order to meet the moment, local governments must take the role of not just defending but expanding existing policies. Cities must create policies that recognize the need for systems that allow immigrants to live with dignity and access equal opportunities. By supporting policies that make immigration status irrelevant to a person’s ability to thrive, we can lead the way in reimagining our communities.

Lastly, we must adopt an international perspective. The U.S. border is not just between Mexico and the United States—it extends through financial and political policies implemented abroad. The U.S. strategy of funding countries, particularly Mexico, to increase border enforcement highlights the need for immigration policies that consider global dynamics. The incoming administration has signaled a more interventionist foreign policy, prioritizing U.S. economic interests in the global south. Policies that promote resource extraction, privatization, and border militarization are likely to create conditions that force more people to migrate. To effectively address migration, we must confront its root causes and develop local systems that uphold the right to the free movement of people—not just capital. Bold, innovative action at the local level is essential, and with the right policies, cities can lead the way in creating an immigration system that meets the real needs of a global society.