Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte said his administration successfully enforced the state’s ban on sanctuary cities, preventing local governments from adopting policies that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
Speaking on Breitbart News Daily, Gianforte said Montana took action after Helena, the state capital, passed a resolution indicating it would not cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
“I signed a law that said no sanctuary cities, and we had a couple of rogue communities that didn’t want to follow the law,” he said.
According to the governor, state officials warned the city that the measure violated Montana law, leading Helena to rescind the resolution.
Gianforte argued that illegal immigration remains a concern for Montana despite its location along the Canadian border.
He said drug trafficking tied to Mexican cartels has affected communities across the state, citing arrests of cartel members on tribal lands and in Bozeman.
The governor contended that fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine entering Montana are primarily routed from Mexico through interstate corridors such as Interstate 15.
