Key Facts

Total Number of People in County Jails and State Prisons, 2015
Explore your state's use of local jails and state prisons.

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What Is a Sanctuary City?

How state and local governments resist efforts to divert their resources to immigration enforcement.

One of Donald Trump’s first actions as president was to attack sanctuary cities, a move that will do nothing to decrease crime or build safer communities. In fact, crime rates are lower in counties that have sanctuary policies—where leaders prioritize local safety over harmful federal immigration enforcement—compared to those that don’t. What is a ...

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  • Erica Bryant
April 22, 2025
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With 17 Deaths in 2025, LA Jails Continue Deadly Trend

94 people have died in LA County jails since the start of 2023.

How are people dying? Los Angeles County has not yet publicly issued causes of death for everyone who has died in county jails in recent months. And even once even once autopsy reports are finalized, they don’t tell the whole story. When the coroner rules that a death is the result of “natural causes,” jail conditions can still be to blame. Researc ...

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  • Sam McCann
April 21, 2025
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I Grew up Undocumented. This Is What It’s Really Like.

After years of feeling erased, having a lawyer to fight for me changed my life. Everyone deserves the same chance.

By Andres* If there’s one thing I’ve learned about the United States immigration system, it’s that even those of us who work in immigration can find it incredibly overwhelming. The forms, deadlines, and constant policy changes can make anyone’s head spin. But my experience wasn’t just professional; it’s been deeply personal. I moved to New York C ...

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April 18, 2025
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