There is no single official, fixed number of sanctuary cities, and the answer depends heavily on how “sanctuary” is defined and which list is used.

Key point: no universal count

  • Different organizations and government agencies use different criteria for labeling a place a “sanctuary” (for example, whether they limit cooperation with federal immigration detainers, restrict local police inquiries into immigration status, etc.).
  • Because of this, counts can vary widely and change frequently as local policies are adopted, revised, or repealed.

Recent example numbers

  • One research and advocacy group that tracks sanctuary policies reported over 200 sanctuary jurisdictions (cities and counties combined) in the United States in recent mapping work, illustrating how widespread such policies have become.
  • A 2025 update from the U.S. Department of Justice, using a narrower and more enforcement‑focused definition, listed only a handful of “designated sanctuary jurisdictions” (four counties) for the purpose of federal action, down from hundreds on an earlier Department of Homeland Security list.

Why the numbers differ

  • “Sanctuary city” is not a precise legal category; it is a political and policy label, so some lists include cities, counties, and even states that limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, while others include only places that meet very specific criteria.
  • Policies also change over time due to local elections, federal pressure, and court rulings, meaning any specific count is more of a snapshot than a stable total.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.