The Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen declared on Wednesday that he is investigating the city of Helena for potential violations of the state's sanctuary city prohibition. This announcement follows the recent passage of a resolution by local officials aimed at discouraging cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
The investigation occurs in the backdrop of increasing tension nationwide regarding President Donald Trump’s stringent enforcement of immigration laws. The Trump administration has threatened to cut federal funding to states harboring ‘sanctuary cities’ that resist his immigration policies.
According to Knudsen, Helena could face fines of up to $10,000 for every five days that it remains in violation of a 2021 state law requiring local authorities to assist federal immigration enforcement. The recently adopted resolution by the Helena city council asserts that city officials are not to disclose sensitive information to external agencies, particularly concerning a person’s immigration status or national origin.
During a press conference unveiling the investigation, Knudsen voiced his discontent, stating, This is clearly the City Council of Helena thumbing its nose at the Montana Legislature. In response, Helena officials noted they had not received official word of the investigation, but are aware of Knudsen's comments. They affirmed that the resolution was established after thoughtful consideration of the relevant local, state, and federal laws.
The City believes the resolution is consistent with those legal requirements, the city opined in a statement, reiterating their commitment to upholding applicable federal and state laws.
Almost half of U.S. states have enacted prohibitions against sanctuary cities, with advocacy groups promoting reduced immigration arguing that local governments must comply with federal law.
Knudsen shared the spotlight at the announcement with Republican Governor Greg Gianforte, who expressed concern that federal agents often find themselves in precarious situations leading to tragic outcomes, referencing incidents involving federal immigration officers in Minnesota. Gianforte emphasized that such tragedies do not provide local governments with the justification to disregard state law.
