Lawrence, KS Immigration Policy: Sanctuary Policy Preemption (2026)

Adopted by Ordinance No. 9736 and expanded by Ordinance No. 9920 (most recently amended by Ordinance No. 10108, effective February 4, 2025), Chapter 1, Article X of the Lawrence City Code declares the city 'an inclusive community that values immigrants' and directs every department to make services accessible regardless of alienage or immigration status (§ 1-1001). Section 1-1003 requires city employees to accept any valid photo identification, including a consular ID, foreign driver's license or passport, when identification is required, with narrow exceptions for federal I-9 forms, driving-authorization checks and identifying a criminal suspect.

The same section states that enforcing federal immigration law 'falls under federal jurisdiction' and is 'outside the scope of duties of city employees, including city police officers,' and it bars the Lawrence Police Department from entering a 287(g) agreement with the federal government without the city commission's prior approval. Section 1-1004 goes further for specific departments: the police department's internal immigration policy must prohibit officers from detaining, arresting, transporting or holding anyone 'based solely upon a civil immigration detainer or administrative warrant,' and must require a public alert, followed by a report within 48 hours, whenever ICE requests department assistance with immigration activity in the city.

Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical must never factor immigration status into emergency response, municipal court staff cannot ask about immigration status when providing interpreters, and utility, parks, transit and city clerk services must stay open to residents regardless of status. Section 1-1005 separately bars retaliation against anyone who files or cooperates in a complaint under this article.