By admin 
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu said the city will continue to protect immigrants in “any way we can” under the threat of mass deportations from newly elected President Donald Trump.
“Elections have consequences, and the federal government is responsible for a certain set of actions, and cities — not individual cities — can undo or override some parts of that,” Wu said on WCVB’s The ‘On the Record’ segment that aired on Sunday. “But what we can do is ensure that we do our part to protect our residents in every way possible; that we will not participate in those efforts that actually threaten the safety of everyone by causing widespread fear and having large-scale economic consequences.”
Wu cited Boston’s status as a sanctuary city under the Trust Act passed in 2014, which limits cooperation with some federal immigration laws. The law prohibits Boston police and other city agencies from cooperating with ICE when it comes to detaining immigrants on civil warrants, while still allowing cooperation in criminal cases such as human trafficking and cybercrime.
Massachusetts cities including Somerville And Amherst have recently reaffirmed their commitments to remain sanctuary cities as the Trump campaign’s promises of mass deportations loom.
Wu earlier told WGBH the city has laws that prevent local police from assisting mass deportation efforts based solely on immigration status.
“We want immigrants to know that it is safe for everyone to contact emergency services, report a crime, ask for help and generally be part of our community,” Wu said Sunday.
Boston’s resources, including housing, are “stretched,” Wu said, and many shelters are already at “winter levels of overcapacity” in the summer as new residents arrive.
Wu didn’t provide many details about what the city’s role might be if federal officials ramp up deportation efforts locally, but said she doesn’t want people to suddenly feel like they have to “retreat to the shadows.”
“Reaching city services, whether it’s calling 911 when you need it or taking your child to school — those are all city services that have nothing to do with immigration enforcement,” Wu said. “And we will continue to protect our residents within those spaces.”