On Tuesday, two actions locally reflected the debate about the recent actions on immigration taken by the administration of President Donald Trump.
Rochester City Council unanimously approved a resolution affirming the city’s status as a “sanctuary city,” something that other communities around the country have done, to say that while they will follow the law, they will not directly be part of federal efforts to look for undocumented immigrants.
That designation in Rochester has actually been on the books since 1986, but the language in the resolution was recently updated. On Tuesday night, Mayor Lovely Warred issued a statement saying that “Rochester is not a city that holds people down and kicks people out.”
The updated resolution states that city resources will not be used to create a registry based on a person’s national origin, race, religion or otherwise and that city personnel will not inquire or request proof of immigration status or citizenship when providing services or benefits, unless specifically required to do so by law.
Meantime, at the county level, Monroe County Legislator Mark Muoio says he’s written to County Executive Cheryl Dinolfo and Sheriff Patrick O’Flynn requesting that officials declare Monroe a “sanctuary county."
Muoio feels it’s important to make people feel as though they can go to the police with issues or problems and not worry about possible arrest if they are not documented citizens.
“Where they can go to the police, they can go to the sheriff’s office and tell them what happened, file a police report and not feel like they or someone in their household is going to be subject to removal or deportation simply because they’ve engaged with the police,” Muoio told WXXI News.
Muoio says other legislators have been offered the opportunity to sign on to this effort.
There was no immediate comment from Dinolfo’s office.
