Executive Orfder Paves Way for Sanctuary City Ordinance

Even before the New Haven Board of Alders completes deliberations and passes an ordinance codifying into law protections for immigrants, Mayor Toni Harp has issued an executive order expanding the city's 2006 prohibition on police from asking residents their status or cooperating with ICE to include all city employees and departments.

The announcement was made at a powerful unity rally on the steps of New Haven City Hall, called by Unidad Latina en Accion (ULA) following two years of grass roots organizing.

The united front of immigrant rights activists, union members, lawyers, elected officials and faith leaders strongly condemned Trump administration attacks on the immigrant community and affirmed New Haven as a city where all are welcome to make their home.

"In the face of so much disrespect we must stay together, stay strong to our convictions. Hate has no home in New Haven," said Harp who was introduced by Fatima Rojas one of the sanctuary ordinance organizers.

Over 2000 signatures of support were collected. The harsh realities faced every day for those living without documents were shared during individual meetings with Alders and the Mayor.

"We are indigenous people who have been traveling this continent for centuries," said John Jairo Lugo of ULA. "Some people say we don't belong here. We have been fighting for our rights and winning changes since 2002."

In that year New Haven was the first city in the country to create a municipal ID card. Immediately ICE raided 32 homes in the middle of the night leaving children without parents. The city came together, raised bail and brought those imprisoned home. A lawsuit against ICE won $350,000.

Rev. Scott Marks of New Haven Rising, decried the brutal practice of ripping African American families apart during slavery. "We were captured and kidnapped and built this country," he said. "When immigrants come and families are separated we have to all stand together. Enough is enough."

Pastor Vicki Flippin of the First & Summerfield Methodist sanctuary church exclaimed that U.S. policies, from genocide of Native Americans to the Dred Scott decision to the Chinese Exclusion Act to the Muslim ban "have always been about white supremacy...Our business must be nothing less than resisting white supremacy."

-- Reprinted from CT People's World