Some councilors and activists are advocating for passage of a city ordinance that would limit Newton Police cooperation with federal immigration authorities – but the mayor and police chief feel a “sanctuary city” ordinance is unnecessary here.
Mayor Setti Warren and Chief David MacDonald said Newton’s current practices were already in keeping with those of other “sanctuary city” communities, releasing a policy statement clarifying that Newton police officers do not proactively take action on immigration matters.
The statement released last Wednesday came one week after around 200 members of the Newton Democratic City Committee called on city leaders to pass a “sanctuary city” ordinance, also known as a Trust ordinance.
While the term “sanctuary city” has no universal definition, more than 300 communities nationwide – including six in Massachusetts – have enacted policies that prohibit local police from detaining individuals for civil immigration violations in cooperation with federal authorities, except in limited, specific circumstances.
Newton Police will detain undocumented immigrants for U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) “only if” they are suspected of terrorism, a serious violent crime, or posing a public safety risk, the mayor’s office clarified in a statement last Friday.