Asheville, NC (Wlos) – The American Department of Internal Security lists the county of Buncombe as a “sanctuary jurisdiction”, joining other cities and counties across the country which, according to the agency, do not cooperate with the federal immigration authorities.
DHS has published the list of sanctuary jurisdictions May 29, citing a Executive decree signed by President Donald Trump on April 28, 2025. The ordinance ordered the Kristi Noem internal security secretary and the prosecutor General PAM Bondi to identify and list the courts deemed non -cooperative with the immigration authorities.
The list is organized by state and includes a mixture of counties, cities and, in some cases, whole states. In North Carolina, Buncombe County was listed alongside Chatham, Durham and Orange counties.
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The DHS affirms that the listed courts “deliberately and shamefully hamper the application of federal immigration laws, endangering American communities”. However, the list does not include specific information on the reasons why each jurisdiction has been appointed.
In February 2025, Buncombe County Sheriff Quentin MillerHB10), which only applies after committing a crime.
“BCSO deputies do not stop and will not only hold people to investigate the immigration status in the absence of a probable cause of an independent crime, which is racly and unconstitutional,” said sheriff Miller in a Press release from February 2025.
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DHS claims that each listed court will receive an official opinion from its “non-compliance with federal laws”.
“Consequences for the status of jurisdiction of the sanctuary”
The executive decree of April 28 Includes a section called “consequences for the competence status of the sanctuary” and lists the possible suspension or termination of federal subsidies and contracts. He also indicates that the Attorney General and the Secretary of the DHS “will continue all the necessary legal appeals and the implementing measures” to put the jurisdictions in compliance.
Second. 3. Consequences for the jurisdiction of the Sanctuary Statute:
(a) With regard to the sanctuar jurisdictions designated under article 2 (a) of this order, the head of each executive or agency department (agency), in coordination with the director of the management and budget office and, as allowed, to identify the appropriate federal funds, sanctuar jurisdictions, subsidies and contracts, for suspension or ending, depending on the suspension sanctuaries.
(b) With regard to the courts which remain the courts of the sanctuary after the national or local authorities receive an opinion of this status under article 2 (b) of this order and remain in defiance of the federal law, the Attorney General and the Secretary of Internal Security pursue all the necessary legal measures and the measures applied to end these violations and laws of laws.
News 13 contacted the Government officials of Buncombe County to comment and update this story during the reception.
