Newton Passes 'Welcoming City' Ordinance

NEWTON, MA – The Newton City Council Tuesday night passed a "Welcoming City" ordinance, which limits cooperation between the city and federal immigration authorities and prevents investigation or detainment of an immigrant based solely on legal status.

The vote was 16 to 1 in favor of adopting the statute, according to the Boston Globe. Seven councilors did not attend.

The ordinance prohibits law enforcement or city officials from investigating or arresting someone based solely on immigration status, notifying federal authorities of the release of a person "for immigration purposes" or enforcing a federal program requiring the registration of individuals based on "religious affiliation or ethnic or national origin," according to the proposal docketed earlier this month.

Use of city resources to assist in the enforcement of federal immigration law is prohibited, as well.

Exceptions to the ordinance include details provided with an individual's consent or a situation where a person "has an outstanding criminal warrant, has a prior conviction for a serious violent felony, is being investigated for terrorism, or if there is a law enforcement or public safety purpose to do so that is not related to the enforcement of civil immigration law."

Newton Mayor Setti Warren delivered his State of the City address following the council meeting, during which he said the ordinance has the "right outcome for all people in the city," the Boston Globe reported.

Warren was an original backer of the ordinance and docketed it along with Police Chief David MacDonald, City Council President Scott Lennon and 16 city councilors in an effort to "make all residents, workers and visitors feel safe and secure regardless of immigration status."

Newton, while not proclaiming itself a "sanctuary city," joins the ranks of communities like Boston, Somerville and Cambridge that have adopted policies to protect immigrants.

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