The nation's capital will join several other progressive strongholds in taking extra steps to protect undocumented immigrants from deportation by the incoming administration. Aaron Davis writes:
D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) announced Monday she plans to award grants to defense lawyers and nonprofit organizations to represent any of the District’s estimated 25,000 illegal immigrants who are faced with deportation.
The $500,000 fund will also help illegal immigrants in the District apply for asylum and will provide representation for those residing in the city legally with green cards to obtain permanent U.S. citizenship.
In a statement, Bowser said the District is “doubling down” on its status as a sanctuary city, where D.C. police have already been instructed to not cooperate with federal authorities working to deport residents.
How about we retire use of the term “illegal” when we’re talking about people, okay? That aside, this action mirrors similar actions taken by Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York State.
A couple months ago, Bowser faced angry chants from immigration activists who said she hadn't adequately rejected Trump's anti-immigrant agenda.
Bowser was caught by surprise by the revolt, insisting that “your mayor has stood up . . . asserted firmly that we are a sanctuary city.” She left the scene with the crowd chanting “not enough.”
This is certainly a step in the right direction.