Despite executive order to withhold federal funds to ‘sanctuary cities,’ Miner pledges to keep fighting
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In a press release, Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner underscored that the city’s resources, such as the Syracuse Police Department, will not be deployed to enforce federal “anti-immigrant policies."
Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner on Wednesday expressed her intention to defy President Donald Trump’s executive action withholding federal funds from “sanctuary cities” that disobey Trump’s immigration policies.
According to an executive action Trump signed Wednesday, cities that don’t comply with federal immigration enforcement agents “are not eligible to receive federal grants, except as deemed necessary for law enforcement purposes by the Attorney General or the Secretary.”
But in a statement Wednesday, Miner reiterated that the city’s resources, such as the Syracuse Police Department, will not be deployed to enforce federal “anti-immigrant policies.”
“We do not intend to change this practice and will scrutinize any proposed changes at the federal level thoroughly,” Miner said in the statement. “I pledge we will continue Syracuse’s commitment to our New American residents, building the trust and relationships our neighbors deserve and continue to treat them with the dignity and respect they deserve.”
New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said in a statement Wednesday that Trump “lacks the constitutional authority” to cut funding from sanctuary cities.
“Local governments seeking to protect their immigrant communities from federal overreach have every right to do so,” he said. “… I urge President Trump to revoke this Executive Order right away. If he does not, I will do everything in my power to fight it.”
Miner declared the city of Syracuse a sanctuary city during her State of the City address on Jan. 12. Syracuse is one of about 300 cities across that country that shield arrests and deportations of people without legal permission.
“Syracuse is now and always will be a city that bids you welcome,” she said in the address.
Trump on Tuesday also gave the green light to build a wall on the southern borders between the United States and Mexico through his executive action, marking the first step toward fulfilling his campaign promise to toughen border security.
Published on January 25, 2017 at 10:28 pm
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