Not on list, Hub still braces for ICE sweeps
Officials taking ‘proactive steps’ to educate residents in case
Though Boston isn’t one of the U.S. cities anticipating an ICE raid this weekend, local officials are taking “proactive steps” to educate residents about their legal rights, just in case.
“Placing fear in the hearts and homes of our immigrant families across the country is not an immigration plan, and it does not represent our American values,” Mayor Martin Walsh said. “Unfortunately, fear has been a regular occurrence in the lives of our immigrant families since the start of this presidency.”
The city sent out a mass email through the Office of Immigrant Advancement after President Trump decided to move ahead with nationwide ICE raids, set to begin today, which will target recent arrivals including migrant families and those with final deportation orders.
“We need to put human dignity first and end practices that aim solely to separate the families that are an integral part of our community,” Walsh said.
The email went out to more than 300 communitybased organizations including nonprofits and health centers, as well as community and faith leaders, to connect folks with resources, such as legal services and handouts from the American Immigration Lawyers Association explaining peoples’ rights in seven different languages.
Trump postponed the operation in late June, but now it appears the sweep could begin this weekend in 10 major cities, including Chicago, Los Angeles, New York and Miami, according to news reports.
Boston hasn’t been notified about any raids, according to the mayor’s office, but a spokeswoman said they are “taking proactive steps to make sure residents know their legal rights,” citing the email and amendments to the Trust Act, which “clarify” the roles of local law enforcement officials and federal immigration laws.
Gov. Charlie Baker supports a detainer policy in Massachusetts, according to spokesman Brendan Moss, who pointed to legislation filed last session that would have created a law to allow certain detainers to be honored so local, state and federal officials can collaborate on public safety. A similar bill has been filed by Republican Minority Leader Brad Jones and is pending in the Legislature.
“The Baker-Polito administration believes federal law enforcement should focus on taking dangerous criminals off the streets and proposed legislation to allow local and state law enforcement to work with federal officials to detain individuals convicted of violent crimes,” Moss said.
Trump announced on Twitter last month that the sweep would mark the beginning of a push to deport millions of people who are in the country illegally.
Then he abruptly canceled the operation after a phone call with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, while lawmakers worked to pass a $4.6 billion border aid package that recently was approved. Trump started hinting anew in recent days that more removals were coming. He said last weekend they would be starting “fairly soon.”