Helena Rescinds Sanctuary City Policy After State Threats

The Helena City Commission voted 4-1 on March 26, 2026, to rescind a January resolution that restricted the Helena Police Department from sharing immigration data with federal agents without a court order. The move follows intense pressure from Montana state leadership, including Governor Greg Gianforte and Attorney General Austin Knudsen, who argued the policy violated a 2021 state statute banning sanctuary cities.

Attorney General Knudsen threatened the city with formal investigations, the loss of state contracts, and fines of $10,000 every five days. City officials, including Finance Director Sheila Danielson and outside counsel Natasha P. Jones, warned that these sanctions could jeopardize millions of dollars in state grant funding. Mayor Emily Dean, who voted to scrap the measure, described the state's tactics as "infuriating" and a "rigged" fight, but concluded the financial risks were too high to ignore.

Commissioner Melinda Reed cast the lone dissenting vote, questioning the price of maintaining local control. While the commission rescinded the original measure to halt the state's investigation, it directed attorneys to draft amended language for a potential new resolution to be reviewed by the Attorney General's office. Governor Gianforte and Knudsen praised the reversal, stating it ensures community safety and full cooperation with federal immigration authorities.