Louisville takes action to get off list of sanctuary cities

The city of Louisville is taking action to no longer be considered a sanctuary city.

Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said Tuesday that the city will begin honoring 48-hour immigration detainers for inmates already in custody.

In late May, the Department of Homeland Security put out a list of more than 500 cities deemed “sanctuary jurisdictions” that the Trump administration viewed as obstructing immigration enforcement. 

While Louisville had not previously been considered a sanctuary city, in 2017, the Metro did adopt a policy stating police would not accept requests from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to enforce federal laws -- and it has remained in effect.

“I want to make it clear—this issue changes nothing with regards to LMPD policy or practice. LMPD is not involved in enforcing federal immigration policy. This is only about inmates who are arrested for crimes, are booked in our jail, and are subject to deportation notices. Our police department will remain focused on public safety and preventing violent crime in Louisville,” Greenberg said in a news release.

The mayor said cities on the sanctuary city list right now are experiencing an increase in raids by ICE. Greenberg also said financial risks played a part in the decision. The city could lose hundreds of millions of dollars in federal grants if it remained classified as a sanctuary city.

According to the news release, fewer than 100 inmates each year at the Louisville jail are affected by detainers.