‘Sanctuary city’ campaigners seek concrete commitments

Symbolic declaration falls short of reassuring immigrants, advocates say

The grassroots campaign to make Ottawa a “sanctuary city” wants more than a symbolic declaration from city hall, a member of the Ottawa Sanctuary City Network said Wednesday.

“What we’re hoping for is quite a bit of action,” Karen Cocq said. “That’s why we need a policy that requires the city and all of the services it provides to make firm commitments around the information that they’re not going to share with immigration enforcement and to take concrete measures to make services more accessible to the people that live in the city.”

Sanctuary cities are urban centres in which undocumented immigrants aren’t refused access to social services. Such a designation doesn’t carry any legal status, but it’s generally viewed as a confirmation to people that they don’t need to worry about being detained or deported if they call 911 or visit a recreation centre.

Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Hamilton, London and Guelph city councils have all passed motions to implement sanctuary city policies.

The prospect of declaring Ottawa a sanctuary city appeared to divide city council when it was first raised last month. Opponents, including Mayor Jim Watson, said no refugee has come forward complaining he or she didn’t receive city services because of incomplete immigration paperwork.

But Somerset Coun. Catherine McKenney, who supports the designation, said a lack of proper documentation could keep some silent.

McKenney was initially going to raise the issue at council last month, but subsequently decided to prepare a report slated for discussion at the March 30 community and protective services committee meeting.

Cocq, who has been active in migrant justice organizing in Canada and abroad for more than a decade, says the biggest barrier undocumented people face is the fear of what might happen if they did come forward. Interactions with police can be particularly fraught because people are afraid they may be questioned about their immigration status and that information might be shared with other authorities.

“It’s precisely what makes people opt out of the things that they need and the services they want because they’re afraid of what might happen if they do,” she said.

A sanctuary city policy, she said, tells people there is an intention to make city and city-funded services safe and accessible and a commitment to not ask about or share information about a person’s immigration status.

The sanctuary city network is holding a community meeting on Thursday at Knox Presbyterian Church (120 Lisgar St.) from 6 to 8 p.m. to share more information about its campaign.

It comes about a week after more than two dozen Ottawa organizations dedicated to ending violence against women declared their support for the campaign.

In an open letter to the mayor and city council released on International Women’s Day, the signatories wrote of understanding the importance of removing barriers that women face in accessing the services and supports they need to live safe and healthy lives.

“We know from experience that immigration status compounds the inequality women already face, and that this can have negative and dangerous consequences for their safety, health, well-being, and dignity, and that of their families,” the letter said.

It’s precisely what makes people opt out of the things that they need .... because they’re afraid of what might happen if they do.