Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren hopes the city can take action soon to update a measure on the books that relates to so-called 'Sanctuary Cities.’
Warren’s comments come after NY State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman this week issued guidance to local governments on how they can put laws and policies in place to limit their participation in federal immigration enforcement activities under President Donald Trump's new administration.
In 1986, Rochester City Council passed a resolution declaring Rochester a “City of Sanctuaries,” and Warren plans to ask the current Council to bring the resolution up to date and reflect some of Schneiderman’s recommendations.
Warren notes that a lot of people in Rochester, and the nation overall, are descended from immigrants.
“We have a number of people that continue to come to the United States based on that premise, that’s what we stand for, a chance to live the American dream and we want to make sure that we continue with that legacy on which this country was founded on. A place of freedom, a place of hope, a place of opportunity.”
Warren says the city cannot enforce immigration laws, that has to be done by federal authorities.
The mayor says the city law department will help make changes to the current resolution about the rights of its citizens and then City Council will consider the measure. That could happen in the next month or two.
