Baltimore’s ‘welcoming’ obligations
In recent days, Mayor Catherine Pugh has spoken with forceful compassion about the city’s approach to immigrants and refugees, stating unequivocally that “we’re a welcoming city. We want to help people become productive members of our community” (“Trump’s sanctuary bullying,” Feb. 5)
Given Mayor Pugh’s affirmation, we must ask ourselves what being a welcoming city demands of us. For our elected leaders, it means ensuring that Baltimore is a safe and accessible home for New Americans. The Baltimore Police Department should continue its policy of not performing federal immigration duties or profiling minorities for enforcement action based on their suspected status. Now, more than ever, we must continue to build bridges rather than walls between the police and all Baltimoreans — especially those most vulnerable among us. A welcoming city also provides sufficient financial support to assist New Americans as they navigate health care, social services and educational opportunities. Baltimore should make an added financial commitment by establishing a legal fund for immigrants as Chicago has done. Being welcoming also means training school officials and school police so that immigrant and refugee children feel safe and accepted in their schools and neighborhoods. Most simply, a welcoming city’s leaders should express friendship and reassurance for the people being persecuted.
On a personal level, each of us can live out an ideal of radical neighborliness. Policies are vitally important, but they do not often touch the lives of new Baltimoreans as intimately as the everyday actions of community members. In order to be a truly welcoming city, each of us must choose to cultivate a spirit of hospitality for newcomers. This means continued advocacy, but it also means reaching out to greet a new neighbor who hasn’t mastered English, even if it’s awkward. Offer a ride to a resettled refugee family so that they can buy their groceries. Volunteer to teach English at a local nonprofit. Make the effort to patronize the many immigrant-owned small businesses in our city. Support organizations like CASA, Esperanza Center and others that assist New Americans. As returned Peace Corps volunteers, each of us can attest to the lasting power of being warmly welcomed and made to feel at home.
We must support and also challenge our policymakers as they build a Baltimore where everyone can live and thrive. Likewise, we must forge relationships in our neighborhoods and communities that will measure whether we are truly living up to this ideal.