KALMAZOO (WKZO AM/FM) — Both Ann Arbor and Lansing adopted new measures this week, openly declaring their defiance against the Trump administration and its anti-immigration policies.
Kalamazoo City Commissioners reaffirmed their position on the issue too, and it is not as a “Sanctuary City”.
They were prompted to make that non-declaration because a resident rose to the podium during citizens time to confront the Commission, demanding to know why they had declared the community to be a “Sanctuary City”, and asking what they will do to replace the money they would lose if the Trump Administration levels sanctions.
He claimed he had presented a number of FOIA requests to get the information, but they were all denied.
Commissioner Matt Milcarek had to correct the man, saying they have never declared “Sanctuary” status.
It was misreported by a local TV Station that they had made that declaration but it was not true.
Milcarek said the city has declared itself to be a “Welcoming City” which has more to do with being open to accepting refugees to the community.
Public Safety Chief Jeff Hadley says they have no interest and no authority to enforce immigration laws, and they don’t ask about the legal status of the people they deal with on a daily basis, except in situations where it may be relevant, or a serious crime has been committed.
He wants everyone to feel that they can bring a complaint to Public Safety if they are victimized. They would become vulnerable without that protection.
Milcarek says there is no legal definition for what constitutes a Sanctuary City.
He says in the end they will probably be judged by the content of their policy, rather than what they choose to call it. Mayor Bobby Hopewell noted that they really aren’t doing anything new. That Kalamazoo has always been a diverse community with an open door policy for new residents.
Milcarek also noted that the threat of sanctions might be more credible if the Trump administration hadn’t proposed in his budget that most of the programs funded by the federal government for American cities be zeroed out.
He says that if Trump has his way, they will lose most of their federal funding, no matter how they treat immigrants.
