Mejia wants ‘sanctuary safe spaces’
Newly elected City Councilor Julia Mejia didn’t waste time making a splash at City Hall as she called for the city’s schools, youth centers and libraries to be designated as “sanctuary safe spaces” where illegal immigrants don’t have to fear deportation.
“Fear of deportation deters immigrants from being civically engaged, and hinders personal, social and financial growth,” Mejia said in her first full meeting after becoming the first Latina to serve on the council.
The at-large councilor’s order to look into creating “sanctuary safe spaces” comes after news earlier this month that Boston Public Schools filed at least 135 student incident reports since 2014 that were made available to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Mejia’s filing calls for a hearing at a yetto-be determined date for officials from the police department, school district and the teachers union to show up and testify alongside the public.
All 12 of Mejia’s fellow councilors gave her a standing ovation and signed onto the hearing order, which looks at schools, libraries and community centers.
The reports in question detail incidents such as fights, disturbances or vandalism, and were made accessible to ICE through law enforcement via the Boston Regional Intelligence Center.
Mayor Martin Walsh and BPS Superintendent Brenda Cassellius insist that the district no longer shares any info with ICE, though the schools do continue to work with local law enforcement.
Contact between local police and other government agencies with ICE has become controversial in some Massachusetts cities, with many such as Boston passing laws limiting cooperation. Advocates who oppose illegal immigration say these laws hamper law enforcement and potentially let dangerous people remain free in the community.