ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Depending on who you talk to, the meaning of a sanctuary community seems to vary.

There’s no one definition of a “sanctuary city,” but the term is broadly used to identify a community that limits a local or state government’s ability to share information about migrants, immigrants, immigrants without legal status and refugees with federal immigration law officers. 

“The reality is that the concept of sanctuary cities is used in different ways for different meanings, and that's the reason why there is so much confusion and misunderstanding. So, for one side, people believe that maybe sanctuary cities are the places where federal immigration law enforcement agents cannot do their job, they cannot enter and do their job — and that is a misconception,” said Angie Matiz, of World Relief Western New York, an international humanitarian organization that works to resettle refugees and immigrants.

“This is important to me because, well, first, I am an immigrant. I know what [it's like] to not to understand the system. I know what [it's like] to not to understand the words that someone says to me and being unable to develop myself. So, I've felt all that,” added Matiz.

That understanding, for some, is at minimum, after President Donald Trump has signed an executive order threatening to pull federal funding from sanctuary cities that do limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement efforts. 

Rochester’s recent experience with its officers assisting ICE agents during a traffic stop, and the public announcement by the mayor that followed, expanded the spotlight on New York state and prompted a visit from the nation’s border czar, Tom Homan.

“Sanctuary cities are sanctuary for criminals,” Homan said. “Criminals have no sanctuary in this country, not under this president. Maybe they did under Joe Biden, but there is no sanctuary for public safety threats and national security threats in this country under the Trump administration.”

“Let me be extremely clear, the city of Rochester's policies have been around for since I was 6 years old, going back to 1986. We will defend and protect our residents and their interests,” said Rochester Mayor Malik Evans.

But the fear is real for immigrants lacking legal status and even for those who have some papers. 

“They are full of fear,” said Matiz. “Local law enforcement agencies have noticed that immigrants, they need to feel safe to help them to do their job. So if an immigrant is a victim of or is witness to a crime, local law enforcement agencies, they want to have them on their side. They don't want them to fear. And this is the reason why they say, ‘we're not going to ask about any legal status unless it's completely necessary.’ So that ensures trust.”