Councilors push back after county sheriff's video labels Oxford a 'sanctuary city'

During announcements, Councilor Stabling criticized a video produced by the county sheriff’s office that, he said, wrongly described Oxford as a sanctuary city. “In his video he claimed that Oxford was a sanctuary city…Which is ridiculous,” Stabling said, adding that the sheriff “ought to know better.”

Other council members responded during announcements and later in the meeting. Councilor Snavely and others emphasized that Oxford is a welcoming, diverse community but clarified, as a matter of policy, that the city is not a sanctuary jurisdiction. One councilor described the characterization as “shameful” and the comments prompted expressions of concern from colleagues who said they had not previously seen the video and that it misstates local policy.

The exchange remained a verbal rebuke; council members reiterated their preference for inclusion and community engagement and emphasized addressing the comment through civic channels rather than by policy change at the meeting.

The meeting record contains no formal action on the sheriff’s video; councilors said they will not take immediate legislative action in this session but voiced concern and declined the “sanctuary” label.