Exclusions In Canadian sanctuary cities: Building More Inclusive cities

The sanctuary city movement is intended to advocate for the basic rights of illegalized migrants, challenge federal immigration policies, and support accessible services for all residents of the city, striving to make sanctuary cities inclusive spaces. The success of inclusivity within sanctuary cities in Canada comes into question when exclusions exist for subgroups of illegalized migrants such as those who have committed crimes, do not have status, or are inhabitants of the city. Furthermore, cities that claim to be sanctuaries continue to marginalize other members of society such as people who identify as Black, Indigenous, or People of Colour (BIPOC). I argue that since Canada is a settler colonial state, the legacy of colonialism is fundamental to understanding the context in which sanctuary cities in Canada operate and how sanctuary city movements in Canada can move towards more inclusivity. Through a scoping literature review, I uncover how exclusion can be detrimental to allyship and conclude that advocates for illegalized migrants, must work to address deep-rooted colonial issues of racism and marginalization within Canadian cities.