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Somerville upholds sanctuary city status, reaffirms itself as a ‘welcoming community’
The resolution pledges to “protect the safety, dignity, and rights of immigrants, migrants, asylum seekers, asylees, and refugees residing in Somerville.”
As President-elect Donald Trump’s second term inches nearer — along with his promises of mass deportation — Somerville’s City Council is reaffirming the city’s status as a “welcoming community” for immigrants.
“The national political climate remains increasingly hostile toward immigrants and refugees,” a resolution approved Tuesday notes. Trump’s return to the White House also “brings heightened risks for immigrant communities across the country, including in Somerville,” the document states.
Tuesday’s resolution featured some slight changes from a version discussed at a City Council meeting earlier this month, which called on city leaders to reaffirm Somerville’s decades-old status as a “sanctuary city.” Somerville previously reaffirmed itself as a sanctuary city following Trump’s 2016 election.
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The new resolution pledges to “protect the safety, dignity, and rights of immigrants, migrants, asylum seekers, asylees, and refugees residing in Somerville.” It also emphasizes a commitment to support and fund resources for immigrants, including legal aid for residents facing deportation or removal.
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The City Council further called on the Somerville Police Department to uphold a commitment to avoid cooperation with external law enforcement agencies on matters related to immigration detainment.
“Regardless of external pressures or challenges faced by sanctuary cities, the Somerville City Council remains committed to its values of inclusion, equity, and justice, and will not waver in supporting our immigrant neighbors, who are integral to the strength and diversity of our community,” the resolution states.
The council approved the revised resolution following a brief discussion, with a copy sent to the Legislative Matters Committee for follow-up.
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