As U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) ramps up its efforts to identify and detain undocumented immigrants living in the U.S., the Mayor of Newark, Ras Baraka, says he is will continue to protect his city’s sanctuary policies. A sanctuary city is one that has certain policies put into place that says it shall limit its involvement with federal immigration enforcement actions [Source: CNN]. Although each city that classifies itself as being sanctuary has its own policies, the goal of them all is to protect their undocumented residents.
While some cities might limit the type of information a law enforcement officer can ask for during a routine stop, others might refuse to give ICE access to their jails and prisons, says CNN. Now, because sanctuary cities hinder the Trump administration from cracking down on illegal immigration, Trump threatened to cut government funding that cities like Newark rely on. Although the administration may not be able to cut all funding, says CNN, it can cut a significant amount that could affect the city’s operations.
ICE Agents Target Sanctuary Cities Like Newark
Despite the threats that have been made, Baraka says that “[The city will] continue to do what we’ve been doing, trying to make sure we take care of the residents of this community – whether they’re documented or not.” But that doesn’t mean ICE won’t still attempt to identify and detain undocumented immigrants living in a sanctuary city. In fact, ABC 7 NY recently reported that ICE agents have announced that they intend on “beefing up enforcement in places considered to be sanctuary cities — where local and state laws are on the books to protect the undocumented population.”
Acting ICE Director Matthew T. Albence even released a statement saying, “As we have noted for years, in jurisdictions where we are not allowed to assume custody of aliens from jails, our officers are forced to make at-large arrests of criminal aliens who have been released into communities.” While immigrants believe these efforts only “promote mistrust and cause panic,” Baraka believes it “hurts folks who are trying to become American.”
Know Your Rights as an Undocumented Immigrant Living in Newark, NJ
Living in Newark, NJ as an undocumented immigrant is very unsettling as you never know what the next day will bring. But despite a person’s status in the U.S., they still have rights and Newark, NJ immigration attorney Eric M. Mark is someone who can help you understand what these are. The Law Office of Eric M. Mark has helped many immigrants looking to obtain legal status in the U.S. get it and they can assist you too. You can contact this firm at 973-453-2009 to find out what an immigration lawyer in Newark, NJ can do to protect you from being detained or deported.