Legislature votes down sanctuary proposal
KINGSTON, N.Y. » Ulster County legislators have rejected a measure that would have made the county a “sanctuary county” for undocumented immigrants.
The 14-8 vote on Tuesday was largely along party lines.
In January, the Kingston Common Council adopted a memorializing resolution declaring the city “welcoming and inclusive” toward undocumented immigrants. The New Paltz Town Board adopted a law in April that bars local police from performing federal immigration enforcement functions.
The defeat of the county measure came after a total of some 30 residents on both sides of the issue addressed the Legislature and more than an hour of debate among lawmakers.
The policy, officially called “A Policy to Maintain a Safe, Inclusive Government and Ensure the Protection, Order, Conduct, Safety, Health and Well-Being of All Persons in Ulster County,” spelled out how government officials could interact with immigrants and federal immigration officials.
Among those speaking against the proposal
was county Sheriff Paul VanBlarcum, who called the measure unnecessary and said the Sheriff’s Office already follows many of the directives outlined in the policy.
The measure called for county employees to not stop, question, interrogate or arrest individuals “solely for the purpose of enforcing immigration law”; to not perform the functions of a federal immigration officer; to honor detainer requests from federal agents only in specific, limited situations; and to deny federal agents access to inmates in county custody.
The defeated measure also would have prohibited county resources from being used to create a federal registry based on immigration status and stated the county would not use citizenship or immigration status when providing services or benefits, except when those services or benefits were contingent on citizenship or legal immigration status.
Several of the 16 residents speaking against the adoption of the policy argued that people coming into the country should do so legally, like immigrants before them.
A number of speakers said their own ancestors came to the United States from other countries and did so through “the front door.”
“I’m not against immigration; I’m against illegal immigration,” said Santos Lopez, a former Legislature candidate from Saugerties who said he is an immigrant.
“I want to keep the bad guys out,” Lopez said. “... It’s not about immigration; it’s about keeping our communities safe.”
Others said undocumented immigrants are taking American jobs and are responsible for crimes in the community.
Supporters of the policy, though, said “sanctuary county” status would make Ulster County safer because undocumented residents would no longer be reluctant to report crimes.
They said the rampup of immigration enforcement under President Donald Trump has ripped families apart and forced once-prospering businesses in communities across the county to close.
Jennifer Santiago, who spoke through an interpreter, said her husband was detained at a county office and now is in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
“One morning, my husband left the house and he didn’t come back,” she said, adding that the couple’s 2-year-old son runs to the door every time someone knocks “to see if it’s his father.”
Legislator David Donaldson and other lawmakers who supported the policy said it would “send a message,” to those who live in fear.
“This is taking a stand,” said Donaldson, D-Kingston. “We’re not pushing hate rhetoric; we’re pushing acceptance rhetoric.”
Legislator Carl Belfiglio, though, called the resolution “totally partisan,” and the Port Ewen Republican said it has “divided the Legislature.”
Voting against adopting the policy were Republicans: Belfiglio, Majority Leader Mary Beth Maio of Lloyd, Chairman Ken Ronk of Wallkill, Richard Gerentine of Marlborough, Craig Lopez of Shawangunk, Mary Wawro of Saugerties, Dean Fabiano of Saugerties, James Maloney of Ulster, Herbert Litts of Lloyd, Kevin Roberts of Plattekill and Ron Lapp of Accord; as well as Richard Parete, a Democrat from Accord who caucuses with the Republicans, and Democrats TJ Briggs of Ellenville and John Parete of Boiceville.
Voting in favor of the measure were Democrats Donaldson, Minority Leader Hector Rodriguez of New Paltz; Peter Loughran of Kingston, Jennifer Swartz Berky of Kingston, Manna Jo Greene of Rosendale, Jonathan Heppner of Woodstock and James Delaune of New Paltz; along with Tracey Bartels, a nonenrolled legislator from Gardiner who caucuses with the Democrats.
Democrat Chris Allen of Saugerties was absent.