Orange, Durham and Chatham Counties are just a few of hundreds of counties and cities recently labeled as “sanctuary jurisdictions” by the Department of Homeland Security. The department defines sanctuary jurisdictions as areas “deliberately and shamefully obstructing the enforcement of federal immigration laws endangering American communities.” The classification of these counties as a sanctuary jurisdiction comes as part of “Executive Order 14287: Protecting American Communities from Criminal Aliens” which was recently signed by President Donald Trump. A page on the Department of Homeland Security’s website titled “Sanctuary Jurisdictions Defying Federal Immigration Law” lists both cities and counties it says meet the standard. The other North Carolina counties listed are Buncombe and Watauga. Durham County Sheriff Clarence Birkhead responded to the new designation, rebuking the claim that the county’s actions or policies violate federal statutes in any way. “Let me be clear, the ...