North Dakota — DHS falsely labels 7 counties as sanctuary jurisdictions
Overview
On May 29, 2025, DHS published a list naming seven North Dakota counties as “sanctuary jurisdictions defying federal immigration law.” The accusation was entirely false — none of these counties had sanctuary policies, and all cooperated with ICE. North Dakota sheriffs publicly denounced the list as “misinformation and a mischaracterization,” and DHS quietly deleted it within days.
The Counties Named
- Billings County (pop. ~950)
- Golden Valley County (pop. ~1,700)
- Grant County (pop. ~2,200)
- Morton County (pop. ~33,000) — includes Mandan
- Ramsey County (pop. ~11,400) — includes Devils Lake
- Sioux County (pop. ~4,200) — Standing Rock Reservation
- Slope County (pop. ~750)
What Happened
DHS released the list nationally as part of a pressure campaign against jurisdictions it deemed non-cooperative. The criteria appeared to be that these counties had not signed 287(g) agreements or otherwise demonstrated sufficient enthusiasm for enforcement cooperation.
North Dakota law enforcement’s response was swift and angry:
- Sheriffs publicly stated they comply with all federal law and honor ICE detainers
- Called the designation “misinformation and a mischaracterization”
- Ramsey County Sheriff specifically pushed back publicly
Resolution
DHS deleted the list from its website by June 1, 2025, after widespread backlash from named jurisdictions nationwide. The page returned “Page Not Found.”
Significance
This episode demonstrates that DHS is using political coercion even against cooperative jurisdictions. North Dakota has:
- An anti-sanctuary law (HB 1303) already on the books
- No sanctuary cities or counties
- Sheriffs who cooperate with ICE
The shaming campaign appears designed to pressure holdout counties into signing formal 287(g) agreements or IGSAs — transforming cooperation from informal to contractual.