WHITE PLAINS – The City of White Plains is another municipality
that does not adopt the term “sanctuary city,” Mayor Thomas
Roach said Saturday.
He was responding to President Trump’s executive order threatening
those communities with a loss of federal aid if they do not turn in illegal
immigrants.
Immigration is part of the city’s national story, said the mayor.
“It was an immigrant, Alexander Hamilton, whose command of artillery
held off British and Hessian troops during the Battle of White Plains,
allowing General Washington to preserve his army, and ultimately, our
nation,” Roach said. “The contributions of immigrants to our
city and our nation have continued to this day.”
By not accepting the term “sanctuary city” in White Plains,
the mayor said police officers “have not and will not inquire regarding
an individual’s immigration status.” Enforcement of federal
immigration law “lies with federal enforcement agencies not local
police forces and we proceed accordingly,” Roach said.
The city’s practices “represent proper community policing,
focused on building and maintaining trust and cooperation between the
police and the community,” the mayor said. All of the city’s
policies comply with the law and the Constitution, Roach said the city
is “prepared to defend them in a court of law if necessary.”
City officials in New Rochelle have issued a similar statement regarding
their policy.
