South Orange Offers Immigrants Sanctuary, Passes Resolution (PHOTOS)

SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — Undocumented immigrants in Essex County now have another sanctuary thanks to a citizen-led effort in South Orange.

On Monday, the South Orange Village Board of Trustees unanimously approved Resolution #2017-027, a “Sanctuary City” declaration that some local activists are lauding as a resounding victory for immigrant rights in North Jersey.

The resolution shares many similarities to other recent sanctuary city-style legislation in New Jersey.

According to the resolution:

• Municipal services and benefits in South Orange won’t be dependent on citizenship or immigration status
• No municipal worker – including police officers – can seek information about the citizenship or immigration status of any person “except where specifically required by law to do so”
• No departments or employees of South Orange will take any actions that profile individuals or groups based on religion, race, ethnicity, national origin or immigration status
• No department or worker will aid in the registration or reporting of individuals based on religion, race, ethnicity, national origin or immigration status
• The village and police department will not enter into any contracts, agreements or arrangements – including 287(g) agreements – with federal authorities that deputize local law enforcement officers to act as immigration agents, or use local facilities to house immigrants in deportation proceedings
• No village funds will be spent to enforce federal immigration laws unless required by legal statute

In addition, the resolution states that the South Orange Police Department’s “overriding mission” is to “enforce state and local criminal laws and to protect the community it serves, not to administer federal immigration laws.”

To that end, South Orange police will not enforce federal immigration law or help ICE deportations, except where legally required to do so, the resolution states.

STANDING UP FOR IMMIGRANT RIGHTS

Dozens of pro-immigration supporters offered passionate and emotional testimony during the South Orange trustee meeting on Monday, with many decrying President Trump’s recent anti-immigration efforts and embattled travel ban.

Watch a video of the Feb. 13 meeting here.

“We are excited that South Orange joins the hundreds of cities and towns that have resolved to be a sanctuary of safety for all residents, especially immigrants both documented and undocumented,” enthused South Orange resident Anita Gundanna, a member of the South Orange-based group SOMA Action.

“It’s clear given recent ICE raids across the country, including in New York City, that immigrants, especially those who are Muslim and those who are undocumented, are currently under attack,” said Gundanna, a second-generation American. “Parents are being separated from children and families are being torn apart. Now South Orange can stand strong in opposition to this tide.”

• See related article: New Jersey Protests Trump’s Immigration Ban [VIDEOS, PHOTOS]

“There is now no doubt that South Orange is a sanctuary of safety,” SOMA Action co-founder Michael Paris said. “SOMA Action salutes South Orange leadership, especially Sheena Collum, for her courage and passion in standing up for our community of immigrants.”

SANCTUARY CITIES AND TRUMP THREATS

South Orange isn’t alone in Essex County when it comes to sanctuary city-style legislation.

In January, South Orange’s neighbor, Maplewood, made headlines when its town council passed a resolution that promises residents “equal, respectful and dignified treatment regardless of their immigration status.”

• See related article: Maplewood 1st N.J. Town To Offer Immigrants ‘Sanctuary’ In 2017
• See related article: Will Maplewood's 'Sanctuary' Stance On Immigration Draw Trump's Wrath?

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.

Newark has been another hotbed of “sanctuary city” style legislation. 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."

Earlier that month, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka declared that the municipality will protect its undocumented immigrants as large, pro-immigrant rallies took place around the city.

• See related article: Rutgers President Offers ‘Sanctuary Campus,' Newark Students Worry After Trump Victory
• See related article: Newark Protests Trump, Mayor Says City Will Protect Undocumented Immigrants

Support for sanctuary city status is also growing in some Essex County towns without official resolutions on the books.

Last week, residents in Montclair showed up in droves to a town council meeting to demand that the township become a sanctuary city.

• See related article: Montclair Residents Demand 'Sanctuary City' For Immigrants

Photos: Matt Peyton Photography

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