Will Newark's 'Sanctuary' Stance On Immigration Draw Trump's Wrath?

NEWARK, NJ — Newark city leaders recently made headlines with their decision to offer local undocumented immigrants protection from deportation by U.S. immigration authorities. But will their political stance end up costing the city federal funding?

According to sources who spoke with Patch, President Donald Trump is expected to sign an executive order as early as Wednesday cracking down on sanctuary cities who offer protection to “illegal immigrants.”

The details of the order are said to still be worked out but could include withholding federal funds to those local governments that offer sanctuary to illegal immigrants. Sources say that the most likely target of funding would be the various grants given to local governments through the Justice Department and the Department of Homeland Security.

• See related article: President Trump Set to Crack Down on Sanctuary Cities

If Trump follows through on his expected crackdown, Newark may be among the cities that are on the federal funding chopping block.

Responding to Trump's expected crackdown, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka said Wednesday that the city will continue to protect undocumented immigrants despite any possible executive order from Trump.

Baraka promised that the city would continue its policy of protecting undocumented immigrants from deportation by U.S. immigration authorities.

“Despite the election of Donald Trump, we see no reason to change that policy,” Baraka stated in a city news release. “We do not hold undocumented inmates in jail at the request of the U.S. Department of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) unless the detainer request is accompanied by a judge's order. Undocumented immigrants who are arrested by the Newark Police Division for criminal activity continue to be subject to the law the same as criminal suspects who are American citizens.”

Baraka said that Newark will not “sacrifice thousands of people who live among us” or “tear families apart.”

"In Newark, we comply with federal immigration agencies, but insist that detainer requests be handled constitutionally,” Baraka said. “I hope that no president would violate those principles, the very foundation of our nation, by taking punitive action against cities that are simply protecting the well-being of residents.”

• See related article: Newark Protests Trump, Mayor Says City Will Protect Undocumented Immigrants

“When I was mayor, Newark became the first city in New Jersey to reject the dysfunctional policy President Trump is now forcing on cities," U.S. Senator Cory Booker said Wednesday. "We found that using local police to detain suspected undocumented immigrants who committed nonviolent crimes wasted our limited resources, distracted officers from fighting serious crimes, and chilled residents’ cooperation with law enforcement."

"Coercing state and local officials into enforcing federal immigration laws, and allowing people to be detained merely on the suspicion of violating such laws, would endanger individuals’ fundamental rights and liberties," Booker added.

New Jersey State Senator M. Teresa Ruiz said that Trump's actions threaten the residents of the Garden State.

"This country was founded on the work of immigrants and on the prospect that everyone is entitled to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness," Ruiz said. "That is the American Dream."

RUTGERS SANCTUARY

In November, responding to students' concerns, Rutgers President Robert Barchi said that the school’s Newark and New Brunswick campuses will protect the privacy of undocumented immigrants attending the university.

"We will protect student confidentiality and will not share private information unless required by law or a court order," Barchi stated. "We expect all persons associated with the university to protect student privacy and confidentiality, as well."

• See related article: Rutgers President Offers ‘Sanctuary Campus,' Newark Students Worry After Trump Victory

ESSEX COUNTY AND SANCTUARY FOR IMMIGRANTS

In December, East Orange became the first municipality in the Garden State to pass a sanctuary resolution in the wake of Donald Trump’s election. A similar measure was due to be considered by the Orange Township City Council earlier this month but was tabled and will be taken up in coming weeks, according to local advocacy group New Jersey Working Families (NJWF).

Earlier this month, the Maplewood Township Council passed Resolution 3-17, which expresses the municipality’s “commitment to equal, respectful and dignified treatment of all people, regardless of their immigration status.”

The resolution made Maplewood the first municipality in New Jersey to declare sanctuary status in 2017, according to NJWF.

The text of the resolution stops short of identifying itself verbatim as a "sanctuary city," an issue that council members vacillated on before deciding on the final version, as Maplewoodian.com reported. But the underlying protections it offers are similar to those typically seen in "sanctuary" legislation.

The resolution states that local police and other agencies will not assist federal law enforcement agencies like Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) with identifying or arresting immigrants whose only alleged crime is related to their legal status.

In addition, it states that none of Maplewood’s municipal services shall be dependent on their immigration status, and requires the local police chief to develop an operating and training policy that is consistent with the resolution.

All efforts from township officials will be "in accordance with local and state laws separate of any federal immigration laws," officials stated in a Jan. 20 update on the municipal website.

See the full resolution here.

“Maplewood has been - and will continue to be - welcoming and open, embracing individuals of diverse racial, ethnic, religious and national backgrounds, and different ages and sexual orientation,” Mayor Victor DeLuca stated.

“Given the political climate in Washington, it is important for the Maplewood Township Committee to be very clear about our intentions of upholding constitutional rights and liberties for all,” DeLuca continued. “We will not participate in dividing people based on citizenship or immigration status nor will we profile or register people because of where they are from or what they believe.”

Earlier this month, DeLuca offered assurances that the township will not require residents to provide their immigration status to benefit from municipal services in 2017.

• See related article: Maplewood Mayor Says Undocumented Immigrants Can Use Town Services

"We are glad to see Maplewood support a strong policy that reiterates that they are a fair and welcoming community for all residents,” said Johanna Calle, program coordinator for New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice.

While he trumpeted the resolution as a victory for local immigration populations, NJWF Political Director Craig Garcia said that more needs to be done across the state.

“As we head towards a presidency that has pledged to deport millions of undocumented immigrants, we need to take action to defend our immigrant communities,” Garcia said. “The passing of policies protecting immigrant communities in Maplewood affirms that New Jersey needs to be a sanctuary state. NJ Working Families and our partners are ready to work with communities across the state to protect residents again the xenophobia and bigotry of the Trump administration.”

Additional reporting by Colin Miner (Patch Staff)

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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