KALAMAZOO (WKZO-AM) — In reaction to immigration orders from the White House that the courts have ruled are unconstitutional, Kalamazoo City Commissioners have reaffirmed positions they have held for some time that Kalamazoo is a “Welcoming City” for immigrants.
Public Safety doesn’t ask about the citizenship of a resident unless they have committed a crime, and then only if there are issues with positively identifying the suspect.
Chief Jeff Hadley says they need the trust of all community members to do their job, and undocumented aliens might not call 9-1-1 if they are afraid it will expose them to deportation.
He says that would be bad for their efforts to fight crime, its certainly bad for the victims and bad for the city.
Vice Mayor Don Cooney says they mean it when they say they are a welcoming city. He says they will protect immigrant citizens and support them.
Two Commissioners want the city to also explore becoming a Sanctuary City and to plan for the day when they receive a demand from the White House they feel is unconstitutional.
The rest of the Commissioners took no action on those proposals.
