New Rochelle Officials Say Police Will Not Act as Immigration Enforcers

NEW ROCHELLE, NY — In the wake of President Trump’s commitment to crack down on more than 300 sanctuary cities across the country that shield immigrants, New Rochelle officials issued a statement that said its police department will not engage in immigration enforcement.

The joint statement was from Mayor Noam Bramson, City Manager Charles Strome III and Police Commissioner Patrick Carroll.

Immigrants were called an essential parts of the identity and future of the city, they said.

SEE ALSO: Trump Signs Executive Orders to ‘Build the Wall’ and Crack Down on Sanctuary Cities

The three added that the police will continue working with federal authorities to bring criminals to justice, regardless of immigration status.

The statement, in full, is as follows:

Yesterday, President Trump issued executive orders related to immigration, one of which concerns coordination between federal immigration authorities and local police departments and is, therefore, directly relevant to municipal policy and practice.

The term “sanctuary city” has no precise definition, and we do not use it in New Rochelle, but we do make absolutely clear that all people of good will are welcomed, valued, and respected in our community, regardless of their origins, and that immigrants are an essential part of New Rochelle’s identity and future.

For our Police Department, maintaining a respectful and mutually supportive relationship with all constituencies in New Rochelle is not just the right thing to do, it is also necessary to the promotion of public safety, which depends on trust and the free flow of information. That is why local police departments are not and should not engage in immigration enforcement – and our practices in New Rochelle reflect and support this principle.

Of course, the New Rochelle Police Department will continue coordinating with federal authorities to apprehend and bring to justice criminals who threaten our safety, regardless of their immigration status.

Photo credit: Michael Woyton/Patch Staff.