Montclair Residents Demand 'Sanctuary City' For Immigrants

MONTCLAIR, NJ — Whether Montclair town officials decide to declare the municipality a “sanctuary city” or not, the will to make it happen now has a face… actually, dozens of faces.

Despite the topic not appearing on the night’s agenda, Tuesday’s town council meeting saw an emotionally charged, standing-room-only turnout of supporters for a sanctuary city resolution in Montclair. The huge influx of residents forced the council to change the venue of the meeting from the upstairs conference room to the larger council chambers.

With many residents citing President Trump’s recent executive order banning immigration from several nations with majority Muslim populations, the meeting was dominated by repeated demands to make Montclair an official sanctuary city.

• See related article: Maplewood 1st N.J. Town To Offer Immigrants ‘Sanctuary’ In 2017

According to Baristanet, the legion of supporters that took to the podium Tuesday included local immigrants Serge Demefack, Rosa Neel, local attorney and Italian-American resident Joseph Fortunato, as well as the Rev. Ann Ralosky of First Congregational Church, who read a statement in support of the sanctuary city movement on behalf of the Montclair Clergy Association.

“The Montclair Clergy Association stands in solidarity in supporting the initiative to have Montclair designated as a sanctuary city, joining hundreds of other cities, large and small across our great country,” Ralosky said. “It’s at the core of every faith tradition that the vulnerable and disenfranchised be protected and provided for, especially in these perilous and unstable times. We believe that the enduring values of compassion and inclusion, historically exhibited by the Montclair community, will be most meaningfully manifested by such an action. This is the community we aspire to be.”

• See related article: Bloomfield Mayor Speaks About Trump Ban, Sanctuary City Status
• See related article: Will Newark's 'Sanctuary' Stance On Immigration Draw Trump's Wrath?

Third Ward Councilor Sean Spiller expressed support for the idea of Montclair as a sanctuary city on a Twitter post during the meeting.

“Thank you to all the residents who came out to support [Montclair as a sanctuary city],” Spiller wrote. “I stand with you as we rise up and speak out.”

Mayor Robert Jackson told meeting attendees that local police haven’t referred a single person from Montclair to ICE during the past 16 years. He added that Montclair police only check immigration status if someone is arrested for an indictable offense or a DWI.

Township Attorney Ira Karasick added that state attorney general guidelines stop local police from asking or investigating the immigration status of a witness, potential witness, or victim of a crime, or anyone receiving special assistance from officers.

Photo: Sean Spiller, Twitter

Send local news tips, photos and press releases to eric.kiefer@patch.com