EASTHAMPTON — A packed meeting room heard arguments Wednesday on the merits and dangers of the city offering protection to undocumented immigrants.
At a meeting of the City Council’s Ordinance Subcomittee, some argued that adopting so-called sanctuary city policies would risk federal funding. Others among the 100-strong crowd urged compassion for people who need a new home.
By declaring itself a sanctuary city, Easthampton would forbid the use of municipal funds to assist federal agencies in seeking out and penalizing undocumented immigrants, and prohibit municipal employees from inquiring about individuals’ immigration status.
“Some have confused sanctuary city policies with the notion that immigrants in these communities are insulated from any immigration enforcement action against them,” City Councilor and Ordinance Subcommittee member Tamara Smith said.
“A sanctuary city is one that has made a formal statement that they will not be aiding in any voluntary collaboration with federal immigration laws.”
Northampton adopted sanctuary city policies by executive order of the mayor in 2014.
Easthampton Police Chief Robert Alberti said a U visa policy in place since 2014 allows illegal immigrants who are witnesses or victims of a crime to come forward to the police without any fear of deportation.
The policy allows undocumented immigrants who are victims or witnesses of a crime to be granted U nonimmigrant status, which is valid for four years.
Many residents in opposition to a sanctuary city designation say federal funding could be cut.
“The loss of federal funds, that’s a very real possibility,” Mike Zmaczynski said. “And property owners, your taxes are going to go up if we have to get the infrastructure and other kinds of equipment that we need.”
Others in opposition say they are against immigrants living in America illegally.
Maryellen Piluzio said she is a first-generation American and has family oversees who are on a seven-year waiting list to get interviewed for a visa. While she said she is not against immigration, Piluzio said she opposes the sanctuary city idea. She said immigrants should come to America through the legal process.
But for some people, immigration is a matter of life or death.
A resident who did not want to be named spoke during public comment at the meeting, describing how his father, who was undocumented, sailed on a raft from the Dominican Republic to Puerto Rico.
For his father, the resident said, finding a home in a new country was “basic survival.”
“Imagine someone saying ‘pick up your bags and leave’ because there’s no more food in the supermarket,” he said.
Resident Ruth Tirado said her family immigrated to the United States.
“We are people, too,” Tirado said. ” We bleed the same color.”
Libby Reinish collected over 150 signatures online from Easthampton residents urging Mayor Karen Cadieux to issue an executive order to instruct the Easthampton Police Department to ignore Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainer requests. She delivered the signatures to the mayor Wednesday morning.
But the City Council also received over 250 signatures in opposition to the sanctuary city idea.
“We are not going to reach a point where we are all in agreement,” Smith said.
The sanctuary city proposal was brought before City Council on Dec. 7 by Councilor Jennifer Hayes after she received an email with about 50 signatures from residents calling for the measure. The council referred the initiative to Ordinance Subcommittee, where the topic could be discussed further.
An idea suggested at the meeting was to create a ballot question so residents could formally vote on the matter. Ordinance Subcommittee Chairman Salem Derby said he needs to consult City Clerk Barbara LaBombard to gather more information on what the process for a ballot question would be.
Derby said an executive order, which is urged by petitions, can only be issued by the mayor. The subcommittee can create a resolution and present it to the full City Council or it can create an ordinance, Derby said.
Smith said councilors need to do more research on the topic and fact-check statements that were made during public comment.
The Ordinance Subcommittee will discuss the sanctuary city topic at 6 p.m Feb. 8 at the Municipal Building.
Caitlin Ashworth can be reached at cashworth@gazettenet.com.