Politics & Government
Springfield City Council Override's 'Welcoming Community' Veto
The third-largest city in Massachusetts isn't a sanctuary city in name, but took a huge step toward acting like one this week.
SPRINGFIELD, MA — The City Council of the third-largest city in Massachusetts overrode its mayor's veto to become a "welcoming community" to immigrants despite their legal status.
The Springfield City Council on Monday voted, 10-1, to override Mayor Domenic Sarno's veto of the "Welcome Community Trust Ordinance," which says police can't cooperate with federal immigration authorities without a warrant and city officials can't ask people about immigration status unless it provides a public benefit.'
The council had approved the ordinance in December by a 10-3 vote before Sarno vetoed it a day later. A two-thirds majority vote was needed. Two of the city councilors who voted no in December didn't attend Monday's meeting.
"I’m excited, I’m happy," City Councilor Adam Gomez said, according to MassLive. "Tonight people feel a lot better about being a resident of Springfield"
Sarno had previously said the ordinance could "create unanticipated and unbudgeted financial and legal challenges to our schools, health, housing and police departments," MassLive reported.
Springfield has more than 150,000 people, trailing only Boston and Worcester in population.
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