The Boston City Council voted unanimously to reaffirm the city’s Boston Trust Act, which clearly defines the roles of the Boston Police Department and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The Act aims to build trust between local law enforcement and immigrant communities by limiting cooperation between local authorities and federal immigration officials.
Councilor Gabriela Coletta Zapata emphasized the significance of the decision at a City Council meeting on Wednesday. “This is not just a policy; it’s a promise to our immigrant neighbors that they are welcome here, and this is a safe haven,” she said. “They should not live in fear of being unjustly scrutinized or separated from their families.”
The Boston Trust Act, part of Massachusetts’ sanctuary policies, restricts local authorities from assisting ICE in the removal of undocumented immigrants, particularly those with minor offenses. In 2022, the Boston Police Department ignored 12 ICE detainer requests, in line with the Trust Act’s provisions.
The Act came under scrutiny earlier this year when ICE arrested Mateo Hincapie Cardona, a man charged with multiple child sex offenses. Cardona, who had previously been arrested by Boston police, was released from custody despite an ICE detainer request.
The ongoing debate over immigration policies has drawn the attention of former President Donald Trump, who has threatened to withhold federal funding from sanctuary cities like Boston. ICE’s new “border czar,” Tom Homan, has also clashed with Boston Mayor Michelle Wu over the city’s stance on immigration enforcement.
Homan, who has been vocal about his opposition to sanctuary policies, warned last month, “Mayors’ number one responsibility is to protect their communities. Either she helps us, or she gets the hell out of the way.”
Mayor Wu, however, has strongly defended the city’s position. “The idea that local law enforcement should participate in mass deportations of residents who have not committed serious crimes is not something that can be done under Boston’s laws,” Wu said in response to Homan’s remarks.
The City Council’s reaffirmation of the Trust Act underscores Boston’s commitment to protecting its immigrant community, even as national immigration policies remain a contentious issue.
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