Heather Curtis
WMAL.com
WASHINGTON- President Donald Trump’s making good on campaign promises to crack down on illegal immigration. Wednesday he signed executive orders to stop illegal immigration, including cutting off federal funding to sanctuary cities around the country.
Takoma Park has been a sanctuary city since 1985. The city council is in charge of maintaining or changing that designation.
“It’s been a longstanding policy of which I believe they’re quite proud and feel strongly about. I doubt that it would cause them to reconsider it,” said City Manager Suzanne Ludlow.
She is concerned the city could lose out on federal money, but said they might not be completely left out because they get some federal grands indirectly. For example, some federal grant money is given to states, which then decide how to distribute it to communities.
“I don’t know how that’s going to be interpreted,” Ludlow said.
Whether Takoma Park is designated as a sanctuary city or not, Ludlow said their actions are likely to stay the same.
The designation prohibits police officers and other city employees from asking residents about their citizenship or immigration status or helping prosecute them for violating federal immigration laws. Ludlow said city police only focus on arresting and prosecuting people who break local laws, something she doesn’t think would change if the city is no longer designated as a sanctuary city.
“We have no interest or authority in the deportation of immigrants. The mission and commitment of the Takoma Park Police Department is the safety and welfare of all our residents,” said Police Chief Alan Goldberg in his message to the city Nov. 11.
Still, Ludlow said they’re concerned the city may be targeted by the Trump Administration for not cooperating with them.
Trump’s expected to sign another executive order Thursday to eliminate sanctuary cities.
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