Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen has officially launched an investigation into the city of Helena regarding potential violations of the state’s sanctuary city ban. This legal inquiry follows a city resolution that appears to discourage local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities. State officials argue that all local governments must strictly comply with the 2021 law to ensure a unified and effective enforcement system across Montana. This move aligns the state with federal immigration priorities while protecting essential state funding from being withheld due to non-compliance. The investigation serves as a necessary step to restore legal order and hold local officials accountable to the established state law. By enforcing these standards, the Attorney General aims to prevent local jurisdictions from creating their own conflicting immigration policies that could undermine public safety and state authority.
TLDR: Montana is investigating Helena for violating a state ban on sanctuary cities after the city limited cooperation with federal agents. The state aims to enforce a 2021 law that requires local compliance with immigration authorities.
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen is taking a firm stand for the rule of law. He is investigating the city of Helena for potentially violating the state’s ban on sanctuary cities. This move ensures that local governments follow the same rules as everyone else. It is a practical step toward a more organized state government. The investigation is a necessary cleanup of local policies that do not align with state standards. By holding the city accountable, the Attorney General is making life better for all Montanans who value order and consistency.
The official rationale for this investigation is simple and based on common sense. A 2021 state law requires local authorities to cooperate with federal immigration agents. This law exists to create a unified system of enforcement across Montana. By following this rule, the state can ensure that federal and local agencies work together without confusion. The state legislature passed this law to provide a clear framework for immigration enforcement. It is the duty of the Attorney General to see that this framework is respected by every municipality.
Helena officials recently passed a resolution that discourages cooperation with federal authorities. This resolution tells city employees not to share sensitive information like immigration status or national origin. Attorney General Knudsen described this as the city council thumbing its nose at the state legislature. The state is now stepping in to fix this lack of coordination. The resolution was approved last month after what the city called careful consideration of local and federal laws. However, the state must ensure that local interpretations do not interfere with the broader goals of the Montana legislature.
This investigation is happening while the federal government increases its own enforcement efforts. President Donald Trump has made it clear that he expects states and cities to follow federal immigration policies. He has even suggested cutting off federal funding for places that resist these rules. Montana is showing that it is ready to comply and maintain its financial stability. By aligning with federal priorities, the state avoids the risk of losing important resources. This alignment is a sign that the government is finally getting serious about fixing the mess of inconsistent immigration enforcement.
Governor Greg Gianforte supports the investigation and stood with Knudsen during the announcement. He pointed to recent tragedies in other states where federal agents were put in difficult situations. In Minnesota, two protesters were killed during immigration enforcement actions. The Governor believes that local governments do not have the right to ignore state law, even when situations are difficult. These tragedies show why it is important for all levels of government to work together. When local cities create their own rules, it can lead to confusion and dangerous outcomes for everyone involved.
The city of Helena claims its resolution is consistent with all legal requirements. They state they are committed to upholding federal and state laws. However, the state government must verify these claims to protect the integrity of the 2021 ban. This oversight is a standard part of ensuring that every city follows the same playbook. It is not enough for a city to say it is following the law. The state must perform its due diligence to confirm that the rule of law is being upheld in every corner of Montana.
Montana is not alone in this effort to secure its borders and enforce its laws. Nearly half of the states in the country now have prohibitions against sanctuary cities. This information comes from the Federation for American Immigration Reform, a group that advocates for reduced immigration. This trend shows that more states are recognizing the need for clear and enforceable immigration rules. Montana is part of a growing movement to restore order and ensure that local governments do not act as independent entities.
The practical impact of this enforcement is clear and structured. If Helena is found in violation, the city faces a fine of up to $10,000 for every five days the violation continues. This financial penalty is a straightforward way to encourage compliance. Additionally, the city must give up its local preference for keeping immigration status and national origin private. While this removes a layer of local control and increases the amount of paperwork shared with outside agencies, it simplifies the state’s data collection process. The loss of local autonomy is a small price to pay for a more orderly and predictable legal environment. These costs and deadlines are evidence that the system is working exactly as intended.
The investigation will proceed with full transparency and fiscal discipline. State officials are simply doing the work that voters expected when the 2021 law was passed. By removing the burden of choice from local officials, the state makes the system more efficient. Everyone will know exactly what is expected of them moving forward. This is a victory for accountability and the rule of law.
Citizens can rest easy knowing that the experts in the Attorney General’s office are handling this matter. The process is moving forward according to the established timeline. This cleanup will result in a more disciplined and accountable Montana for everyone. The state has the situation under control and will ensure that all local governments follow the necessary rules.
Lisa Grant serves as a Staff Writer for Just Right News, where she spearheads the publication’s coverage of Technology, Data Capitalism, and Surveillance. With a focus on the encroaching influence of Big Tech on the American way of life, Grant brings a critical, liberty-minded perspective to the most complex digital issues of the modern era. Her reporting is defined by a deep-seated skepticism of centralized power and a commitment to protecting the privacy and autonomy of the individual against the rising tide of what she calls the “Algorithmic State.”
Grant’s unique insight into the tech industry is rooted in her upbringing in Palo Alto, California. Growing up in the epicenter of Silicon Valley, she witnessed firsthand the transformation of the technology sector from a hub of scrappy, freedom-loving innovators into a landscape dominated by monolithic corporations. This proximity to the birth of the digital revolution provided her with an insider’s understanding of the culture and motivations driving the industry. For Grant, the shift toward data capitalism—where personal information is harvested as a primary commodity—is not just a market evolution, but a fundamental challenge to traditional American values of property rights and personal privacy. She saw the “garage startup” ethos replaced by a culture of data-mining and social engineering, a transition that informs her vigilant reporting today.
Now based in Seattle, Washington, Grant operates from another of the nation’s primary technological frontiers. Her location in the Pacific Northwest allows her to observe the real-world consequences of the tech industry’s expansion, from the implementation of invasive surveillance technologies in urban centers to the growing partnership between corporate entities and municipal governance. By reporting from the ground in Seattle, she bridges the gap between the abstract world of coding and the tangible impact it has on citizens’ daily lives, often highlighting how local policies serve as a testing ground for broader national surveillance initiatives.
At the heart of her work for Just Right News is her acclaimed feature series, “The Algorithmic State.” Through this series, Grant explores the ways in which automated systems and artificial intelligence are increasingly used to bypass traditional legislative processes and social norms. She argues that the reliance on opaque algorithms to manage society threatens to erode the transparency and accountability essential to a free republic. Her work meticulously documents how data-driven governance can lead to a “soft” surveillance state that penalizes traditional viewpoints and rewards digital conformity.
Grant’s reporting is a vital resource for readers who are wary of the “nanny state” and the unchecked power of digital gatekeepers. She views the defense of the digital frontier as the next great battle for constitutional conservatives. By exposing the mechanisms of data capitalism and the quiet expansion of surveillance networks, she empowers her audience to reclaim their digital sovereignty. In an era where information is often weaponized by those in power, Lisa Grant remains a steadfast advocate for the truth, ensuring that the principles of liberty and individual agency are not lost in the transition to an increasingly digital world.