3 days ago
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.
