In a time of intensified federal immigration enforcement and rising fear, what does it really mean for a city to be safe?
Recently, a person arrested for a minor traffic violation in Northampton was detained by ICE at a court outside the city. Within days, they were denied access to their lawyer, pressured into signing a self-deportation order, and swiftly deported. This person’s partner was left heartbroken and fearful, with a newborn baby and no income.
As many are aware, this is not an isolated tragedy. With Donald Trump and his administration at the helm, across Massachusetts and nationwide, immigrant families are being targeted by a federal system that often operates with little oversight and even less accountability. And with the recent massive increase in federal ICE funding, the threat will continue to grow.
Northampton is officially a “Safe City,” which is an important designation. But a label isn’t enough; we must match words with action to ensure our immigrant community members are protected — not only from unlawful ICE activity, but from the cascading harms that follow detention and deportation, including family separation, job loss, housing instability, and fear that no person should have to live with.
That’s why we’re calling on all current and incoming city officials to go beyond symbolic gestures and commit to concrete, immigrant-led solutions.
What can city leaders do? Plenty.
Among many actions they can take, city leaders can meet regularly with local and regional immigrant organizers to learn about and support their/our priorities. They can advocate for policing policies that limit traffic stops for minor issues, which too often serve as gateways for ICE involvement. They can support housing policies without immigration status requirements, expand Know Your Rights trainings, and establish legal funds for immigrants in partnership with nearby municipalities.
City leaders can ensure that Northampton Public Schools commit to never cooperating with ICE and that contingency safety plans are in place to protect our local students. They can amplify resources like the LUCE hotline — which we can all call if we suspect we’ve just seen an ICE vehicle or officer — and develop relationships and connect fellow community members with organizations/groups such as the Pioneer Valley Workers Center, Western Mass Asylum Support Network, and the Massachusetts chapter of the ACLU.
The ideas above come directly from immigrants in our group and beyond, who are organizing for their/our rights and futures. Northampton’s role is to listen, to amplify, and to act.
In August, we emailed every candidate running for office in Northampton in hopes of learning what they would/will do to help build a city where immigrants can live safely and thrive. We did this to help ourselves and other voters make informed choices in the recent election, while recognizing that immigrant safety is one among many issues important to Northampton voters. We received responses from about half of the candidates, and all of those responses are here.
Solidarity is a commitment we must renew every day. We hope Northampton’s elected officials and all of us are ready to commit, again and again, to following the lead of our immigrant community members as we work for the safety and well-being of everyone who calls this city home.
Kristen Elde and Soledad Thorman are writing on behalf of the Immigrant Solidarity Collective, a group of immigrant and non-immigrant community members organizing around issues of immigrant rights and justice. Contact immigrantsolidaritycollective@gmail.com with any questions. The LUCE number is 617-370-5023.