Jefferson County Attorney Mike O'Connell noted that segments of Louisville's ordinance quoted by the U.S. Department of Justice were selective and lacked context.

The U.S. Department of Justice is pushing back on cities it views as soft on immigration enforcement, challenging Louisville this week to prove its new local law doesn’t amount to “sanctuary” policies.

People in Louisville will no longer be questioned about their immigration status by city employees, including police. And police will only assist federal agencies in enforcing immigration laws with a warrant signed by a judge or when there is a risk for danger or violence, according to an ordinance approved Thursday by the Louisville Metro Council.

An ordinance barring Louisville police officers and employees from enforcing federal immigration laws cleared a first hurdle Wednesday and will soon be up for a vote by the Metro Council.

Louisville Metro police officers and city employees would be barred from enforcing federal civil immigration laws under a proposed city ordinance set to be introduced Thursday night.

KyCIR's reporting on LMPD's cooperation with federal immigration agents prompts new police guidelines.

Immigrant rights activists in Louisville are ramping up their push for “sanctuary city” policies in the wake of a report that Louisville Metro Police officers have repeatedly assisted federal immigration agents on service calls.

The announcement follows the publication of a KyCIR investigation into the Louisville Metro Police Department's relationship with federal immigration agents.

Entering the country illegally is a civil offense that LMPD officers don’t enforce. But a KyCIR investigation found that LMPD helps ICE with its enforcement when asked, a practice that runs counter to statements from city leaders and in contrast to the “compassionate city” image they project.