NORTHAMPTON — A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement action in the city last Thursday, which led to the arrest of a Brazilian man in Framingham who is also facing two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, is prompting both Northampton and Amherst officials to reaffirm their commitments to being sanctuary communities.

“We, the undersigned leaders of the city of Northampton, reaffirm our unwavering commitment to being a welcoming, inclusive, and equitable community,” reads a statement issued Monday afternoon by Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra, Police Chief John Cartledge and Merridith O’Leary, commissioner of the Department of Health and Human Services.

Coinciding with the statement, Sciarra issued a new Executive Policy Order reaffirming and strengthening Northampton’s dedication to protections codified in the city’s “Safe City” Ordinance, adopted on Dec. 5, 2019, and stating that city resources shall not be used to determine the immigration status of a person, unless such inquiry is required by state or federal law or to provide a public benefit, and that no city official should perform the functions of an immigration officer.

Her order also builds upon Massachusetts’ 2022 legislation that safeguards people seeking sanctuary from out-of-state investigations, and ensures that no city resources are used to assist with investigations or actions targeting lawful health care activities, including gender-affirming care.

Northampton’s statement notes that ICE agents were in pursuit of a specific person and the action was carried out independently, with no involvement from Northampton police. The city continues to have a long-standing policy of non-cooperation with such actions to the extent permissible by law. The city leaders also note that enforcement of federal immigration laws is outside the authority of local law enforcement.

“These principles are foundational to who we are as a city and are enshrined in our laws, policies and actions.” the city statement reads. “Today, as always, we stand united in support of all who live in, work in or visit Northampton, regardless of their immigration status, gender identity or other protected characteristics. Northampton is dedicated to fostering safety and dignity for all members of our community.”

The Northampton statement follows one released Amherst town officials on Friday.

“Today, in writing, we affirm that we continue to welcome new immigrants to our great nation and to our community,” the statement reads. “We encourage immigrants and their families to build lives in our community, as many of our ancestors have done.”

The Amherst statement is signed by Town Manager Paul Bockelman, Police Chief Gabriel Ting, Superintendent of Schools E. Xiomara Herman and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Director Pamela Nolan Young.

“We, as community leaders, stand with our neighbors, whether they be new or old, and, we encourage one another to adhere to the long-standing values of our great nation, of ‘liberty and justice for all.’”

ICE action

ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations, based in Boston, arrested Dhennefer Ferreira Pires, 31.

“Ferreira fled his home country to evade justice and came to Massachusetts where he allegedly continues to inflict harm on others,” acting Enforcement and Removal Operations Field Office Director Patricia H. Hyde said in a statement. “The residents of Massachusetts should not have to live in fear of the world’s fugitives hiding in their communities.”

Pires entered the United States near Tecate, Calif., on Sep. 9, 2021, fleeing Brazil before serving a criminal sentence for theft. U.S. Border Patrol agents served him with a notice to appear before a Department of Justice immigration judge and then released him on his own recognizance.

Settling in Massachusetts, Pires was arraigned on two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon in Framingham District Court on Sept. 22, 2024, charges that remain pending, even with his possible removal from the country.

Hyde added that her office will continue to prioritize the safety of the public by arresting and removing egregious noncitizen offenders.

Sanctuary commitment

Northampton’s commitment to sanctuary began in 2011, when the City Council unanimously adopted “A Resolution of the Northampton City Council on the Secure Communities Program,” expressing its opposition to federal immigration enforcement programs and urging the city to prioritize community trust and public safety. Three years later, an Executive Policy Order by Mayor David Narkewicz formally prohibited Northampton police from honoring ICE detainer requests that were noncriminal and not supported by a judicial warrant.

The city also states that a person’s immigration status shall not prohibit or inhibit the city’s participation in any government operation or program that confers an immigration benefit, including temporarily or permanently protecting noncitizens from removal as provided through programs such as the U Visa, the T Visa, and the federal Violence Against Women Act.

The values in the sanctuary ordinance are in line with the recent commitment and also extends to protecting the rights and privacy of residents seeking reproductive or gender-affirming care, with the City Council recently adopting a resolution declaring Northampton a sanctuary city for transgender and gender-diverse individuals.

“Together, these measures underscore Northampton’s unwavering dedication to ensuring equity, dignity and safety for all,” the statement reads. “We affirm that Northampton is, and will remain, a community where all are treated with dignity and humanity. Our commitment to these values is unwavering. We remain united in our belief that inclusion and equity are the cornerstones of a just and vibrant community.”

Amherst’s statement, too, mentions its commitment to welcoming new immigrants to the United States and to the community, also citing a town bylaw that, as a sanctuary community, prohibits local law enforcement from cooperating with the federal officers.

The statement references the town’s general bylaws, Section 3.9, that declares the town as a sanctuary community. This bylaw was revised by the Town Council in April: “To the extent permissible by law, a town department, or officer or employee of a town department shall not perform the functions of an immigration officer,” the bylaw reads.

Both Bockelman and Ting said they were not officially notified about what occurred in Northampton.