Boston City Council Votes Unanimously to Retain Sanctuary Status

The Boston City Council voted unanimously to retain its status as a sanctuary city on Wednesday night, to “protect” illegal immigrants from president elect Donald Trump’s immigration policy.

All thirteen council members voted to reaffirm the city’s Boston Trust Act, which “delineates the distinct roles and responsibilities of the Boston Police Department from those of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), thereby promoting trust between local law enforcement and immigrant communities.” In other words, the act severely limits to what extent local authorities can work with federal immigration authorities.

“It’s not just a policy, but it is a promise to our immigrant neighbors that they are welcome here, and this is a safe haven, and they don’t have to live in fear of being unjustly scrutinized or even ripped away from their families,” Councilor Gabriela Coletta Zapata said at the Wednesday City Council meeting. “As we brace for impact, we’ve got to make sure that we all work together.”

{snip} In 2022, the Boston Police Department ignored twelve ICE detainer requests, per the Boston Trust Act.

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