Bloomfield Welcomes Immigrants With 'Sanctuary-Style' Resolution (VIDEO)

Bloomfield joined several of its Essex County neighbors with a resolution aimed at protecting immigrants' rights in the township.

Mar 1, 2017 1:55 pm ET

BLOOMFIELED, NJ — The Bloomfield Township Council unanimously approved a resolution declaring the municipality as a "fair and welcoming" city during its Feb. 27 public meeting.

While it avoids the label of "sanctuary city," the declaration shares several characteristics with other recent sanctuary-type legislation passed in Essex County towns such as East and South Orange, Maplewood, Montclair and Newark.

See related article: South Orange Offers Immigrants Sanctuary, Passes Resolution (PHOTOS)

"Our diversity is a source of our municipality's strength and the Bloomfield Township Council is committed to ensuring that all our residents can live and pursue their livelihoods in peace and prosperity," the resolution states.

Read the full legislation text here.

The resolution supports:

"The establishment and communication of a clear policy that [Bloomfield] police and government agents will not enforce federal immigration law nor help facilitate ICE deportations, except where legally required to do so"
"A prohibition on township agents and employees conditioning services on immigration status, except where required under applicable federal or state law"
"Encouraging the adoption of clear and transparent protocols for the certification of U-Visas for undocumented immigrant community members who have been victims of a serious crime and have cooperated in the investigation of the crime"
"Publicly and vigorously opposing any government registry based on religion or national origin"

Local advocacy group New Jersey Working Families issued a statement praising the resolution.

"We applaud Mayor Venezia and the Bloomfield Council for enacting clear policies to protect vulnerable immigrant communities," NJWF State Director Analilia Mejia said. "With the fear and uncertainty created by the Trump administration, local governments must play a key role in resisting efforts from the federal government to trample on the rights of community members."

Watch a video of the Feb. 27 meeting below. (Editor's Note: The discussion and vote for the "fair and welcoming" resolution begin around the 95 minute mark.)