DC City Council Votes ‘Unanimously’ to End Working with ICE

Yesterday, Townhall reported that the Washington D.C. City Council would be considering “emergency” legislation on Tuesday that would order all D.C. government agencies and facilities from cooperating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement as well as other federal immigration authorities unless given an explicit court order. On Tuesday, the D.C. City Council voted unanimously to pass this bill, officially known as the “Sanctuary Values Act.”

According to Sanctuary DMV, the final bill excludes federal inmates, but the pro-illegal immigration group praised the bill’s sponsor, Ward Six councilman Charles Allen, nonetheless. “Thank you to the DC Council for heeding the calls of immigrant communities by passing the #SanctuaryValuesAct to protect our neighbors from ICE. We’re particularly grateful to Councilmembers @charlesallen, @BrianneKNadeau, and @cmdgrosso for your leadership on this issue,” the group tweeted.

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Per yesterday’s Townhall report, the new bill will make Washington, D.C. a true “sanctuary” city for illegal aliens:

WTOP reports that Ward Six Councilman Charles Allen has called for an emergency meeting this Tuesday to discuss a new bill that he says would stop all city agencies from cooperating with ICE unless given an explicit court order. This means that local police and other D.C. government officials would be barred from “sharing information with ICE, complying with detainer requests or allowing ICE agents to enter city facilities, such as the jail, juvenile justice facilities and St. Elizabeths Hospital,” according to Anagha Srikanth.

D.C. correctional facilities are currently required by law to notify ICE at least 48 hours before releasing an illegal alien from custody. Allen argues that this infringes upon people’s liberties.

“The District has a responsibility to ensure that all residents are respected and able to interact with public safety officials without fear of adverse civil immigration action,” Allen’s bill argues.