West Virginia Senate Bill 167, enacted in 2017, prohibits sanctuary policies. Charleston cannot adopt rules barring police cooperation with federal immigration authorities and must comply with state anti-sanctuary requirements.
West Virginia Senate Bill 167, passed in 2017, prohibits municipalities and counties from adopting sanctuary policies that restrict cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration officials. Charleston therefore cannot bar Charleston Police Department from honoring lawful detainers or sharing information with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. State funding can be withheld from non-compliant municipalities. While Charleston is not a sanctuary city, it also has no formal 287(g) agreement; immigration enforcement is generally driven by federal officers. Local police priorities focus on city-code and state criminal enforcement rather than civil immigration.
A municipal sanctuary ordinance or policy in Charleston would violate WV SB 167, exposing the city to loss of state funding and potential lawsuits by the state attorney general.
Charleston, WV
Charleston cannot set its own minimum wage above the West Virginia rate of 8.75 dollars per hour set by W. Va. Code Section 21-5C-2. State law preempts local...
Charleston, WV
Charleston levies a business and occupation gross receipts tax under Chapter 10 of the City Code, with rates that vary by business classification such as ret...
Charleston, WV
Charleston has not adopted a hotel worker retention ordinance like those in some larger cities. Hotel sales or change-of-control transactions in Charleston f...
Charleston, WV
Charleston hotel guests pay a 6 percent city hotel occupancy tax under W. Va. Code Chapter 7 plus a 6 percent state consumer sales tax, totaling roughly 12 p...
Charleston, WV
Charleston enforces loud party rules through the city noise ordinance and disorderly conduct provisions in Chapter 24, with stronger response near East End r...
Charleston, WV
Charleston follows the Kanawha-Charleston Clean Indoor Air Regulation prohibiting smoking in indoor public places and many outdoor patios, plus state restric...
See how Charleston's sanctuary policy preemption rules stack up against other locations.
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