❓WHAT HAPPENED: Montana’s governor and attorney general have announced an investigation into potential local violations of the state’s ban on sanctuary city policies.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Governor Greg Gianforte (R-MT) and Attorney General Austin Knudsen (R-MT), along with the city of Helena.
📍WHEN & WHERE: The investigation, launched in mid-February 2026, focuses on Helena, Montana, following a city council vote regarding federal immigration enforcement.
💬KEY QUOTE: “In Montana, we don’t tolerate defiance, and we support our law enforcement officers.” – Gov. Gianforte
🎯IMPACT: The investigation sends a message to local governments across Montana about compliance with state law and potential penalties for violations.
Montana Governor Greg Gianforte (R) and Attorney General Austin Knudsen (R) have launched an investigation into the city of Helena, the state’s capital, for potential violations of the statewide sanctuary city ban. The law allows for civil legal action and fines against jurisdictions that fail to cooperate with federal immigration authorities.
“In Montana, we don’t tolerate defiance, and we support our law enforcement officers,” Gov. Gianforte said of the allegations against Helena’s city officials, noting that the investigation is a warning to all local governments in the state about the consequences of non-compliance with state law. Meanwhile, Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen accused Helena’s city government of “thumbing its nose to the Montana Legislature.”
The investigation stems from a recent vote by Helena City Commissioners that prevents local coordination with federal immigration operations, and specifically U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. Gov. Gianforte expressed “serious concerns” about the resolution’s legality, noting that under the state law, no local or state agency in Montana can refuse to cooperate with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
In a letter to Knudsen, Gianforte referenced President Donald J. Trump’s efforts to enforce federal immigration law and criticized the lack of enforcement under the former Biden government, which he said allowed millions of illegal immigrants to enter the U.S. He also pointed to recent decisions by Democrat state lawmakers in other parts of the country that have put federal immigration agents at risk.
A spokeswoman for Helena stated that the city had not received formal communication on the matter and believes its resolution complies with local, state, and federal laws. Meanwhile, Knudsen’s office is also monitoring Missoula, where local officials deny the city is a sanctuary jurisdiction. However, they acknowledge that police officers do not inquire about immigration status during public interactions.
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