The Metropolis Council voted unanimously Wednesday to reaffirm Boston’s standing as a sanctuary metropolis “to protect” immigrants amid President Donald Trump’s vow to hold out mass deportations when he takes workplace for the second time subsequent month.
The 13-0 vote was to reaffirm the Boston Belief Act, which, per the Council’s accepted decision, was first enacted in 2014, later amended in 2019, and “delineates the distinct roles and responsibilities of the Boston Police Department from those of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), thereby promoting trust between local law enforcement and immigrant communities.”
The regulation prohibits Boston Police and different metropolis departments from cooperating with ICE relating to detaining immigrants on civil warrants, whereas nonetheless permitting for cooperation in prison issues like human trafficking, little one exploitation, drug and weapons trafficking, and cybercrimes, based on the decision.
“It’s not just a policy, but it is a promise to our immigrant neighbors that they are welcome here, and this is a safe haven, and they don’t have to live in fear of being unjustly scrutinized or even ripped away from their families,” Councilor Gabriela Coletta Zapata mentioned on the Wednesday Metropolis Council assembly. “As we brace for impact, we’ve got to make sure that we all work together.”
Metropolis Council President Ruthzee Louijeune, who launched the decision and is the primary Haitian-American elected to metropolis authorities in Boston, made related remarks.
“As the national climate grows increasingly hostile towards immigrant populations, we must reaffirm who we are as a city, our leadership role in maintaining a positive and welcoming environment here with our immigrant communities,” Louijeune mentioned. “This resolution is just enforcing what is already on the books and what is already enforced, but I think our immigrant communities need to hear that we, as a Boston City Council, unanimously support them via the Trust Act.”
The decision, co-sponsored by Councilors Julia Mejia and Benjamin Weber, touches extra particularly on the altering federal administration sparking the all-Democrat Metropolis Council’s determination to reaffirm Boston’s sanctuary standing.
“In the face of changing federal leadership, the City of Boston must reaffirm our support for the Boston Trust Act to protect our immigrant residents by creating a safe environment where all residents, regardless of immigration status, can report crimes, seek assistance, and live without fear of discrimination or undue scrutiny.”
It goes on to state that, “The City of Boston shall continue to monitor and respond to federal immigration policies that may impact its residents, reaffirming its commitment to protect immigrant communities from unjust enforcement actions.”
The Council motion follows progressive Democrat Mayor Michelle Wu’s declaration final month that town would look to proceed to guard immigrants in “every possible way” beneath the specter of mass deportations from Republican President-elect Donald Trump, and wouldn’t cooperate with efforts that threaten residents’ security.
Wu’s feedback caught the eye of Trump’s incoming border czar Tom Homan, who bashed the mayor for what he noticed as her vow to struggle federal efforts to eradicate public security threats, resulting in a public squabble between the 2.
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