DOJ Designates East Lansing as Michigan's Only Sanctuary City

East Lansing Identified as Michigan's Sole Sanctuary City by Department of Justice The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has officially designated East Lansing as the only sanctuary city in Michigan, as part of its latest compilation of sanctuary jurisdictions. This designation comes amidst an updated list that also includes multiple states, counties, and cities across the United States, a change from the previously retracted list. The DOJ's current list highlights East Lansing among over a dozen states and nearly twenty additional cities that have received sanctuary status. The earlier list, which included other Michigan cities like Ann Arbor and various counties, was pulled two months ago following pushback from law enforcement organizations, including the National Sheriffs' Association. U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi has emphasized that the DOJ will pursue legal actions against sanctuary jurisdictions, stating, "Our department will continue bringing litigation against sanctuary jurisdictions and work closely with the Department of Homeland Security to eradicate these harmful policies around the country." This strategy reflects the DOJ's ongoing efforts to challenge local policies that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities. In 2023, the City Council of East Lansing formally adopted a resolution to declare the city a sanctuary, which includes stipulations preventing local law enforcement from assisting federal immigration enforcement. The resolution signifies a commitment to providing sanctuary to undocumented immigrants within its jurisdiction. The criteria for receiving sanctuary designation include actions such as limiting federal immigration funding, restricting cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainers, and establishing offices to provide resources to undocumented residents. As of August 5, 2025, the updated list of sanctuary jurisdictions compiled by the DOJ includes a variety of states, counties, and cities: States: California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Illinois Minnesota Nevada New York Oregon Rhode Island Vermont Washington Counties: Baltimore County, MD Cook County, IL San Diego County, CA San Francisco County, CA Cities: Albuquerque, NM Berkeley, CA Boston, MA Chicago, IL Denver, CO East Lansing, MI Hoboken, NJ Jersey City, NJ Los Angeles, CA New Orleans, LA New York City, NY Newark, NJ Paterson, NJ Philadelphia, PA Portland, OR Rochester, NY Seattle, WA San Francisco City, CA