Shortly after the White House released an executive order on Border Security and Immigration Enforcement Improvements, Boston Mayor MartyWalsh convened a press conference at City Hall to reinforce his support for the
immigrant community. He was surrounded
by dozens of immigrant leaders from various communities in greater Boston .
“Today's Executive Orders regarding immigrants are a direct
attack on Boston 's people, Boston 's strength & our values,” Walsh
said. “We will not stand for it.
“We are a city and nation built on immigrants and we depend
on newcomers to maintain the vitality of our country. We will not be intimidated by a threat to
federal funding. we will not retreat one
inch,” Walsh continued.”
In June, 2014, the Boston City Council passed the Trust Act,
which guarantees undocumented immigrants that the Boston Police Department
would not report them to federal authorities.
Earlier in the day, Mayor Walsh issued this statement:
I am deeply disturbed by today’s news. We will not back down from our values that
make us who we are as a city. We will
fight for our residents, whether immigrant or not, and provide the best quality
of life for all Bostonians. I will use
all of my power within lawful means to protect all Boston residents – even if that means using
city hall itself as a last resort.”
Read story about Mayor Walsh's Irish immigrant roots.
