3 days ago
DHS targets sanctuary cities including Springfield and Holyoke
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – As the federal government continues to detain illegal immigrants, sanctuary jurisdictions are now being targeted.
Last Thursday, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security released a list of 500 counties, cities, and states that they claim are interfering with mass deportations. The department published the list, citing they were 'endangering Americans and law enforcement in order to protect violent criminal illegal aliens.'
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These places are referred to as sanctuary jurisdictions, or a place that limits cooperation with federal immigration authorities. While the list was posted on the Department of Homeland Security's website last Thursday, it was since taken down as of Sunday.
Cities across the country on the list included San Diego, Las Vegas, and Philadelphia, but there were also four in western Massachusetts.
'In my mind, we are not a sanctuary city,' said Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno.
One of those cities was Springfield.
'We do not interfere with I.C.E., but we have the Welcome City Ordinance that says my officers cannot ask any type of status, immigration status,' said Springfield Police Superintendent Lawrence Akers.
The city of Holyoke was also on the list. In a statement, Mayor Joshua Garcia said the city's executive order 'simply directs our police officers to follow the law and not act as federal immigration agents.' Two additional cities in western Massachusetts are publicly declared sanctuary jurisdictions: Amherst and Northampton.
Federal officials have criticized sanctuary city policies, claiming local agencies are releasing criminals back into the communities. The DHS said the sanctuary jurisdiction list will be used to determine the termination of grants.
'I have already lost millions and millions of dollars in grants, this now possibly means we are going to lose even more money,' Mayor Sarno said. 'My first responsibility is to the residents and business community of the city of Springfield.'
Since the webpage was taken down, it is uncertain what, if any, action will be taken against the sanctuary jurisdictions on the list. 22News will continue to follow this story and provide updates as more information becomes available.
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