Montclair Adopts ‘Welcoming Community’ Resolution To Protect Immigrants (VIDEO)

MONTCLAIR, NJ — It’s not exactly a “sanctuary city” resolution, but it comes close, Montclair.

During their public meeting on Tuesday, Montclair council members voted 4-2 to approve a resolution that “reaffirms Montclair’s continuing commitment to equal, respectful and dignified treatment of all people regardless of their immigration status and to remaining an open and welcoming community.”

The resolution reads:

“Montclair has long welcomed and embraced individuals and families of diverse racial, ethnic, religious and national backgrounds, recognizing that these persons are valued members of our community and a source of strength and security for our nation.

“The policy of the Township of Montclair shall be to welcome and treat all persons entering or living in our community with the same respect, fairness, and dignity, and to continue providing municipal services and enforcing the law on an equal basis to all people, regardless of their ethnicity, religion, or nation of origin or descent, or of federal immigration status.

“As a matter of policy, recognizing that this Council is prevented by State statute from directly instructing or ordering the Manager or Chief of Police to take any action or to operate the Police Department in a particular manner, the Police Department should continue to follow New Jersey Attorney General Law Enforcement Directive 2007-3 in interactions with federal immigration authorities, refraining from inquiring as to or investigating a person’s immigration status except in the limited circumstances when they are required by law to do so and from acting as an extension of federal immigration enforcement authorities.

“Montclair welcomes, and urges the federal government to admit, persons and families seeking to reside in this country irrespective of whether they come as refugees, or originate from countries dominated by violence or want, or are adherents of a particular faith. The Township Council opposes any government registry based on religion or national origin.”

Read the full resolution here and watch a video of the Feb. 21 Montclair Town Council meeting below.

The Montclair town council resolution comes two weeks after dozens of residents packed a council conference meeting and demanded that the municipality be declared a “sanctuary city.”

• See related article: Montclair Residents Demand 'Sanctuary City' For Immigrants
• See related article: South Orange Offers Immigrants Sanctuary, Passes Resolution (PHOTOS)
• See related article: Maplewood 1st N.J. Town To Offer Immigrants ‘Sanctuary’ In 2017

Photo: Montclair Township / TV34 screenshot

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