Back on November 28, 2016, Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz issued a statement supporting universities creating “sanctuary campuses” and advocated that county police not partake in efforts to identify the immigration status of students.
I thought that this was an excellent response to political climate regarding immigration. First of all, I believe that any student is at a campus to learn. If they are undocumented, who cares? They are working to be productive members of our communities and they are paying for the opportunity. Additionally, the implication that universities should have the authority to screen for citizenship is ludicrous! It is not the responsibility of universities or the local police to be involved in a federal immigration law, nor should it be. Furthermore, the opposite of Kamenetz’s position would build a wall between the immigrant community and the police. That wall makes the immigrant community less willing to cooperate with the police in order to solve crimes.
Given the impact, I contacted my local representatives, including Rep. Andy Harris, supporting sanctuary campuses. At Harris’s Bel Air office, they were cordial but had no information to give me on Harris’s position.
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Two days later, on November 30, 2016, Rep. Andy Andy Harris spoke on WCBM 680 spoke on WCBM 680 specifically warning Kamenetz about his support of sanctuary campuses.
As a constituent, I was gobsmacked. Here I had reached out to my representative to advocate for my concerns, and he goes and lambastes my position. My representative was not representing me!
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I went on to do further research and talk to other in my district and learned that Andy Harris has a reputation of ignoring or hiding from various populations within his district.
Their question of late is “Where is Andy?”
Based on my experiences, the answer is “Not with me.”
He has been invited to an Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act (ACA) Education Forum on February 19th from 6:30-8:30pm at the Harford Community College, Darlington Hall, Room 202, so that he can listen to and respond to the needs and concerns of his district on this issue.
