West Orange Doesn’t Need A Sanctuary City Resolution, Here’s Why: Mayor

WEST ORANGE, NJ — According to West Orange Mayor Robert Parisi, the township doesn’t need a symbolic gesture to protect immigrants in town… it just needs some basic human kindness and respect.

Responding to the immigration debate that’s inspired many surrounding towns to declare themselves “sanctuary cities” or enact similar legislation, Parisi issued a Friday video statement that explained why he doesn’t feel the municipality needs to follow suit.

According to Parisi:

“Many residents and local organizations have requested that the Mayor’s Office officially declare the township a sanctuary city in order to protect our residents or local immigrant population… However important the issue, it is always incumbent upon us all to count on facts when making any decision or encouraging community dialogue. Regardless of the genuine concerns we all may have for our neighbors, one thing is certain; there is no clear answer as to what a Sanctuary City is as there is no legal definition of the term. Some have defined it as a declaration in which a municipality chooses not to actively seek immigration status of its residents. Others have defined it where a municipality commits to protecting or shielding its citizens, who may be illegal immigrants, from federal or state agencies.”

Parisi continued:

“Our police department, or any local law enforcement agency in New Jersey, cannot inquire about immigration status unless a resident is arrested for the commission of a felony or is arrested for drunk driving. There are no additional provisions in which we can, or will, inquire about immigration status. This means, for example, that we do not and have never made inquiries about a resident’s immigration status when issuing permits, parking tickets, moving violations, when called to a home for any reason, when responding to a motor vehicle accident, if a resident is a victim of a crime or any other circumstance in which a resident may encounter our police department or any other municipal department.”

Parisi said that municipal officials and workers do not have the authority to prevent federal or state agencies from carrying out their responsibilities or acting on open warrants in their pursuit of individuals.

“The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency has required that local law enforcement work cooperatively in the execution of an arrest warrant for decades and our police department has carried out this responsibility frequently over the years,” Parisi said. “It is not realistic to ask local law enforcement to openly disobey the law nor is it responsible.”

Parisi said that although he respects the symbolic actions that West Orange’s neighbors have taken towards Sanctuary City status, they do not provide any additional protections for residents or illegal immigrants than is currently in place in New Jersey and currently provided all West Orange residents.

“I recognize the symbolic nature of many of these declarations but I do not believe that is necessary in this community,” Parisi said. “West Orange has been living that declaration for decades… The people of this community and the professionals within our law enforcement community have worked hard for decades to create what we now are blessed to know as normal. Nothing happening around us, or any declaration, will change that and we should not allow other people, or national concerns, to define what we are as people… For communities like ours, an honest commitment to helping our neighbors does not begin with looking for government to make a declaration or gathering at rallies but instead, gathering at the Food Pantry, gathering with neighborhood groups, volunteering at your local school, church or with the Boys and Girls Club. Helping out with our youth sports programs, senior citizens programs, supporting local scholarship programs or simply taking the time to learn what a neighbor may need to make their life a little easier.”

Read Parisi’s full statement here.

SANCTUARY CITIES AND TRUMP THREATS

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

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

“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.

In January, 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.

Residents in Montclair recently 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: YouTube screenshot

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