Boston Mayor Marty Walsh and Somerville Mayor Joe Curtatone today vowed to continue protecting immigrant families - including enforcing local edicts barring police from turning people into ICE for minor infractions - even at the risk of losing millions in federal aid.
Walsh vowed to use Boston City Hall itself as a sanctuary for immigrants threatened by the federal government if necessary, at an afternoon press conference at City Hall.
"You are safe in Boston," he told immigrants. "We will protect you."
Walsh said he will not waste "vital" police resources on any ICE roundups and that he is not concerned about a cut off of funds.
"No. We are going to protect, collectively, the people in this state."
"We see you and we've got your back," City Council President Michelle Wu told immigrants. "President Trump wants to tear us apart, but this only makes us stronger."
"What the president did today is an attack on the city of Boston" and similar cities, Wu said.
Walsh said he did not know how much money Boston could lose if Trump follows through on his threat to withhold all federal funds from sanctuary cities. For the fiscal year that ended in July, the city received about $250 million in federal funds for everything from education to homeland security.
Watch Walsh's and Wu's statements.
Ron Newman reports from Somerville City Hall: "Somerville will remain a sanctuary city," Curtatone said.
Like the job UHub is doing? Consider a contribution. Thanks!
Ad:
Comments
"Best quality of life for all Bostonians"
By anon
Wed, 01/25/2017 - 4:21pm
Wouldn't that include working to have criminals who are here illegally removed?
Ah, you used the magic word
By adamg
Wed, 01/25/2017 - 5:08pm
Criminals.
Local police departments work quite well with the feds on combatting criminals from other countries.
Key to some of these investigations is gaining the cooperation of local residents, which those same police departments earn by working with them and ensuring they will be safe from the sort of wholescale sweep-up-everybody raids Dear Leader is promising.
So even if you don't give a shit about civil liberties and basic human decency, there might be a reason to appreciate the sort of cooperation, even protection, people like Marty Walsh are talking about.
And if you do care about such things, you might recall that the last time we had such a national witch hunt, hundreds of American citizens got swept up and shipped to Mexico. Imagine somebody today trying to get back into the US without a passport.
Am I missing something?
By anon
Wed, 01/25/2017 - 7:04pm
Why do people consistently overlook the fact that undocumented immigrants (formerly called "illegal aliens") already committing a crime simply by the fact that they are undocumented immigrants? They don't necessarily have to be drug dealers or bank robbers. Whether they overstayed their visa (which is the usual way), or floated in on an innertube as cliche often has it,
the fact cannnot be ignored that they are already living in a state of broken law. I am not for any kind of wholesale rounding up, but some sort of control needs to be maintained.
Not criminals
By Matt
Wed, 01/25/2017 - 7:21pm
Actually, depending on how you get here, being an immigrant or undocumented immigrant isn't illegal nor a crime. So they cant just be arrested or deported just for being immigrants. And furthermore, illegal entry is usually only a misdemeanor anyway.
I'm lucky, I didn't have to do anything to get permission to be here. A lot of other people arent so lucky, and have to get in either through our givernment systems or otherwise. Generally, this is a good place to be and you can't blame people for wanting to come. I would too if I wasn't already.
If I left the country without a passport or id, how would i get back in? If I had by chance been born elsewhere, how would i get back in? What decides who is allowed here or not?
ooh pick me, I know the answer to this!
By Nick L
Wed, 01/25/2017 - 8:29pm
Because unlawful presence in this country, whether by overstaying a visa or crossing the border, is NOT A CRIME. It's a civil offense. Always has been. Nobody is 'overlook[ing] the fact' because it's not a fact.
Then again, maybe you have alternative facts that say the Immigration and Nationality Act doesn't say what it clearly says.
You're committing a crime...
By lbb
Wed, 01/25/2017 - 8:43pm
...when you exceed the speed limit.
What's your point?
By anon
Wed, 01/25/2017 - 8:59pm
If you exceed the speed limit you are committing a crime which is punishable under law.
It is a crime, but who is harmed?
By lbb
Thu, 01/26/2017 - 8:50am
My point is that there are many laws broken every day without harmful consequences to anyone. We know that -- it's a fact of life. That doesn't mean that the law is pointless and shouldn't be on the books, but when prioritizing which crimes should be law enforcement's highest priorities, shouldn't we think first about which ones do the most harm?
I think that this is what the present-day incarnation of the sanctuary movement is about (well, at least 90% of it) -- simply saying that local police resources won't be diverted to make local police officers act as immigration control. It's a recognition of the reality on the ground, that most immigrants of whatever status are simply people trying to live their lives. And isn't it more problematic and disruptive of society if we harass people like that?
Funny you should mention that
By BostonDog
Wed, 01/25/2017 - 9:14pm
Deaths due to traffic fatalities vastly outnumbers deaths due to violent crime, including terrorism.
If you're generally a law abiding citizen the biggest threat you face is transportation related. (Excluding cancer, etc.)
No.
By dirtywater77
Wed, 01/25/2017 - 9:38pm
Speeding is not a crime in Massachusetts. Please learn the difference between criminal and civil offenses, and stop spreading false information.
If you go fast enough it is.
By dmcboston
Wed, 01/25/2017 - 11:50pm
Then it's an arrestable offense.
Might be a good analogy. If you're here illegally, you can be deported. That's a fact, always has been and will not change. The issue is when do we enforce that. If an illegal (hey, good enough for SCOTUS, good enough for me) commits a serious offense, then that's different.
There's a world of difference between some gangster and some guy just trying to make a better world for his family.
So that would mean it's just
By avjudge
Fri, 01/27/2017 - 3:44am
So that would mean it's just as much a crime as being in the country illegally!
DIY Pokemon
By anon
Wed, 01/25/2017 - 8:44pm
A wild troll has appeared.
You used humanity on the troll it's supper effective and caused paralysis.
The troll fainted.
If that's a crime, it's a victimless crime
By Ron Newman
Wed, 01/25/2017 - 11:30pm
I'm not against deporting convicted violent criminals who are undocumented (it costs less than keeping them in prison here), but just being here is not hurting anyone.
Not a sanctuary for violent criminals
By Ron Newman
Wed, 01/25/2017 - 5:42pm
Mayor Curtatone said that explicitly.
You just might see ICE
By Will
Wed, 01/25/2017 - 9:21pm
You just might see ICE vehicles and other U.S. Government agencies in upcoming days or weeks driving around East Boston, Chelsea and Revere offering cash rewards for those that know who and where are the illegals hideout areas are, countless raids will be going on soon.
Trump is acting like hitler.
Or you might not.
By dmcboston
Wed, 01/25/2017 - 11:51pm
What you're saying is pure conjecture.
It seems Mayor Walsh doesn't
By anon
Wed, 01/25/2017 - 4:26pm
It seems Mayor Walsh doesn't seen any difference at all between a legal immigrant and and illegal immigrant.
It seems
By perruptor
Wed, 01/25/2017 - 6:42pm
It seems Donald Trump doesn't seen any difference at all between a legal immigrant and and undocumented immigrants.
Can you point us to a speech
By anon
Thu, 01/26/2017 - 10:59am
Can you point us to a speech or statement where Trump says anything negative referencing the word "immigrant" without the word "illegal" in front of it? I can't.
"Undocumented" is newspeak,
By anon
Thu, 01/26/2017 - 2:33pm
"Undocumented" is newspeak, used by the left.
THANK YOU
By Michael
Wed, 01/25/2017 - 4:30pm
With the Democrats in Washington doubling down on their commitment to sit on their thumbs until this all somehow blows over, it's nice to see a show of backbone from our local elected officials.
Must be...
By THE_WIZ
Wed, 01/25/2017 - 4:34pm
An election year...
Just make sure the homeless vets stay on mass n cass while illegals cram into public housing and illegally sub let for cash.
Also, make sure all Boston jobs go to "Boston" residents...like all the votes that got him elected were from true City residents only. Lol
"This town needs an enema!"- the joker
Blah blah Alt Fact Blah!
By SwirlyGrrl
Wed, 01/25/2017 - 4:42pm
Blah blah talking point blah blah unsubstantiated just so story blah blah hate blah blah blah alt fact blah blah blah
The dame
By THE_WIZ
Wed, 01/25/2017 - 4:49pm
In the ivory tower "speaks."
Been working for the city for a long time now.
My observations are authentic and steadfast.
My results may not be empirical, nor to your liking....but naturalistic observation is an intrinsic aspect of the scientific process.
Your quote squirrellygirl, is a projection of your own hysterics.
I figure your a big Freud fan.....
[citation needed]
By anon
Wed, 01/25/2017 - 5:16pm
Statistics to prove it or STFU
Not ivory tower
By SwirlyGrrl
Wed, 01/25/2017 - 6:02pm
Despise Freud.
Thoroughly despise his nonempirical followers obsessed with philosophy over evidence.
The projection is all yours.
Is your nickname "GIGO?"
By whyaduck
Wed, 01/25/2017 - 4:46pm
Garbage In. Garbage Out.
Thank you!
By Elena
Wed, 01/25/2017 - 4:40pm
Thank you, Mayors Walsh and Curtatone. You make us proud.
If we lose millions in
By anon
Wed, 01/25/2017 - 4:43pm
If we lose millions in Federal aid, what does that mean? I'm serious, please. No snide remarks. I sincerely and concerned and want to know. I am not a Trump supporter AT ALL and I want to know what happens if we lose millions in Federal aid. Does that mean Massachusetts will have to reevaluate/reallocate/shift around budget items to accommodate such significant loss? Or, does the Federal Government stipulate exactly which programs they are cutting off? Will taxpayers suffer because of this consequence? Will it cause the closure of even more homeless shelters, after school programs, etc., etc., etc.? AGGGHHHHH!!!
We stop paying our federal taxes
By anon
Wed, 01/25/2017 - 5:17pm
We already subsidize southern states who don't pay enough for their own upkeep.
Then we join Canada with the rest of Province New.
Ya that
By anon
Wed, 01/25/2017 - 5:31pm
Will never happen.
Said King George
By SwirlyGrrl
Wed, 01/25/2017 - 5:56pm
Said King George
Said Abraham Lincoln.
By dmcboston
Wed, 01/25/2017 - 11:53pm
Said Abraham Lincoln.
Canada Doesn't Have
By anon
Thu, 01/26/2017 - 1:05pm
Canada enforces its immigration law
Canada has illegal immigrants
By R Hookup
Fri, 01/27/2017 - 9:32am
Canada has illegal immigrants as well, though having the US as a buffer between it and much poorer countries does minimize it.
a modest proposal
By bibliotequetres...
Wed, 01/25/2017 - 8:00pm
What if we passed a new revenue bill with a 2020 sunset clause, that would temporarily increase MA income tax, allowing residents to then claim it as a deduction off our federal taxes?
There must be a CPA amongst the UHubbers who can weighh in on how this might be possible.
Iffy
By KSquared
Thu, 01/26/2017 - 8:47am
Since deducting state taxes on the federal tax form requires you to itemize deductions, that would have to be a pretty sizable tax increase for those non-mortgage holders to justify itemizing.\
/TaxNerd
thanks, tax nerd!
By bibliotequtress...
Thu, 01/26/2017 - 5:45pm
Okay, we make it sizable, then wipe out the fee for online itemized filing on mass.dor.gov. I've itemized for various reasons for so long now, it's second nature, but maybe the state could work with TurboTax or whomever to come up with simple filing software for folks to declare income tax.
if you are going to raise the
By anon
Fri, 01/27/2017 - 8:51am
if you are going to raise the state tax rate, dedicate the proceeds to fixing the MBTA. never rnind the circumventious shenanigans with the sunset.
If we lose millions in
By rachel_sez
Thu, 01/26/2017 - 12:12am
If we lose millions in federal aid, will GE have to pay for their own freakin' helipad? *gasp*
Full video of Mayor Curtatone's press conference
By Ron Newman
Wed, 01/25/2017 - 4:53pm
Here. (I do not know how to embed a video)
Trump will probably pay $1000
By Will
Wed, 01/25/2017 - 5:03pm
Trump will probably pay $1000 to those who know where illegals are hiding around Boston.
Not legal
By anon
Wed, 01/25/2017 - 5:21pm
Not that it will stop him.
Other illegals might not cooperate with police is a joke
By O-FISH-L
Wed, 01/25/2017 - 5:53pm
This is the reddest of red herrings. Illegal immigrant witnesses to crime have no fear, since cooperating local and state police only report to ICE the names of those arrested not those who are witnesses. In fact, cooperating with police would benefit a witness at any future deportation hearing for those who have cut the line.
Also, what is the punishment for a police officer, who took an oath of office to enforce the laws, when he reports a federal law breaker/ illegal alien to ICE? I would love to be a fly on the wall at that Civil Service hearing, better yet on the receiving end of the payout after lawsuit. Does the non-cooperation with ICE policy negate the policy requiring officers to cooperate with other federal agencies? If the illegal has already been deported once and returns (felony) does that make Walsh and Curtatone an accessory before or after the fact? They and their ilk may want to look into the Homestead Act and a decent personal liability policy. You can't make it up.
The only joke here
By SwirlyGrrl
Wed, 01/25/2017 - 6:00pm
The fake cop with his truthyish taking points and alternative facts once again spewing lies.
Everything you say is undocumented. Perhaps you should deport your computer.
deport your computer?
By Scumquistador
Wed, 01/25/2017 - 6:06pm
how did you know it didn't belong?
syntax error
hahahaha man, what a great time to be alive
That's how they got robo-Capone
By erik g
Wed, 01/25/2017 - 6:10pm
Syntax fraud.
ai capone
By Scumquistador
Wed, 01/25/2017 - 8:24pm
ai capone
You can't make it up.
By erik g
Wed, 01/25/2017 - 6:09pm
And yet here you are, doing just that, day in and day out.
Bugger off, you crypto-fascist wannabe cop.
Pages
Add comment