When they’re not running their urban centers to the ground, big city Democratic mayors are going above and beyond to protect illegal immigrants. Because why not.
Several mayors have already announced their plans to oppose President Trump’s immigration overhaul in the face of the White House’s threat to cut funding to sanctuary cities. Apparently, securing a future for those who cross the border illegally and use government resources sponsored by taxpayer dollars is more important than keeping American cities functional.
Here are the 5 craziest things Democratic mayors are pledging to do to fight Trump on illegal immigration:
1. Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh “said he would open City Hall as a sanctuary and ‘safe space’ to illegal immigrants — promising to house them in his office — in the wake of President Trump’s executive order to halt federal funding for ‘sanctuary cities,’ and said Boston would not accept federal money if it was tied to toeing Trump’s line on immigration,” according to the Boston Herald.
“If people want to live here they’ll live here, they can use my office, they can use any office in this building,” Walsh stated. “Any place they want to use, they can use this building as a safe space.”
2. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emmanuel is re-declaring his city a “sanctuary city” as uncontrollable violence plagues the Southside.
“I want to be clear: We’re going to stay a sanctuary city,” he announced. “There is no stranger among us. Whether you’re from Poland or Pakistan, whether you’re from Ireland or India or Israel and whether you’re from Mexico or Moldova, where my grandfather came from, you are welcome in Chicago as you pursue the American dream.”
3. Seattle Mayor Ed Murray said that he’s willing to accept a legal battle with the federal government in order to protect his city’s sanctuary city policy.
“This city will not be bullied by this administration,” he declared. “We believe we have the rule of law and the courts on our side.”
4. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said that properly enforcing federal immigration law is a threat to public safety.
“This is the kind of thing that will destroy that promise, and make it impossible for the police to keep cities safe,” he stated. “New York City has half a million undocumented people. We want them to come forward and work with the police if they see a crime, if they’re a victim of a crime. If they believe by talking to a police officer they will get deported and be torn apart from their family, they’re not going to work with police.”
“This city will not be bullied by this administration.”
Seattle Mayor Ed Murray
5. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said that he won’t direct LAPD officers to comply with the federal government. The city’s police chief echoed the mayor’s sentiments.
“What we don’t do is ask local police officers to enforce federal immigration laws — and that’s an official LAPD policy that has been enforced for nearly 40 years,” Garcetti stated. “That is for everyone’s good, because trust between police and the people they serve is absolutely essential to effective law enforcement.”