Latest news with #JivanSobrinho-Wheeler
Axios
3 days ago
- Politics
- Axios
Cambridge doubles down on sanctuary city policy
The city of Cambridge has reinforced its stance as a sanctuary city for immigrants amid renewed federal enforcement, elevating its protections for migrants to among the strongest in Massachusetts. Why it matters: One of the most proudly progressive communities in the state — perhaps the country — is telling President Trump the city won't lift a finger to assist immigration enforcers. Driving the news: The Cambridge City Council unanimously amended its 40-year-old Welcoming Community Ordinance on Monday night to further restrict police cooperation with federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The council vote came after the Department of Homeland Security initially named Cambridge among more than 200 cities accused of "defying federal immigration law," a list that was later retracted. What they're saying:"Cambridge is not going to lock down or make a deal with the Trump administration and weaken our protections. In fact, we're going to bolster them," said Councilor Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler, who championed the changes. Zoom in: With the council vote, Cambridge eliminated language allowing police to provide traffic control or escorts for federal agents. The updated ordinance states that Cambridge police will focus solely on public safety and not on assisting federal agents. Cambridge officers must now verify federal agents' identities during immigration operations. City employees will work to document any federal immigration action in Cambridge and identify any ICE agents, "including with masked individuals," Sobrinho-Wheeler said. Between the lines: The updated policy is the result of a compromise between councilors and the Cambridge police union over concerns about officer safety. Police also worried about potential federal obstruction charges if they got in the way of ICE. The bottom line: Cambridge, where 91.7% of voters supported a candidate other than Trump in the 2024 election, wants to be on the vanguard of the immigration issue. "What we're doing is something that's very responsible and also very clear that we are standing up ... and we're moving forward with a strong ordinance to ensure that our safety is protected," Councilor Patricia Nolan said.
Boston Globe
12-04-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Amid crackdown on elite universities, Cambridge protesters to urge Harvard not to concede to Trump demands
Advertisement The Cambridge rally comes amid a broader campaign by the federal government to crack down on elite universities, especially in the wake of the Hamas attack on Israel and the campus protest movement over Israel's military offensive in Gaza. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Cambridge City Councilor Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler told the Globe that amid other institutions like 'If any institution can stand up to Trump's threats, it's Harvard,' he said. City councilors and more than 800 Harvard faculty members Advertisement Harvard's endowment as of the 2024 fiscal year It also called on Cambridge's city manager, Harvard alum Yi-An Huang, to 'coordinate a response and consult with all relevant city, regional, and state entities to develop a united front and take all action possible to counter this assault on the foundational values of our city as a center of higher learning.' Related : In the resolution, councilors drew a parallel between the current administration's demands and Holocaust-era appeasement policies, when several European countries conceded to the demands of Hitler, 'contributing to the horrific rise of the Nazi regime and World War II.' Cambridge's calls to action come days after Spencer Buell and Mike Damiano of the Globe staff contributed to this report. Samantha J. Gross can be reached at
