Montana's Republican attorney general announced on Wednesday that he is investigating the city of Helena for potential violations of the state's sanctuary city ban. This inquiry follows the city's recent resolution which discourages cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
Attorney General Austin Knudsen stated that Helena risks incurring fines of up to $10,000 for every five days it is found to be in violation of a 2021 state law requiring local authorities to work with federal immigration agents.
The resolution passed by Helena's officials states that they will not disclose sensitive information, including a person's immigration status or national origin, to outside agencies.
This is clearly the City Council of Helena thumbing its nose at the Montana Legislature, Knudsen asserted during his announcement. The resolution, which the city claims was adopted after careful consideration, has sparked heated discussions regarding state and local compliance with federal immigration laws.
Helena officials have indicated they had not received an official notice about the investigation but acknowledged Knudsen's announcement. They assert that their resolution aligns with local, state, and federal laws, emphasizing their commitment to uphold all applicable regulations.
As per the Federation for American Immigration Reform, nearly half of the states have enacted prohibitions against sanctuary city policies, further escalating the national debate over immigration enforcement in the midst of ongoing tensions surrounding President Trump's aggressive immigration stance.
Republican Governor Greg Gianforte, present during the announcement, expressed concerns regarding federal agents being placed in difficult situations leading to the deaths of individuals during enforcement actions. He recognized the tragedies associated with such encounters, but emphasized that local governments should not disregard state law.
