Salem City Council declares federal immigration enforcement emergency

Yesterday, December 1, the City Council approved a resolution with a lengthy title:

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF SALEM RECOGNIZING THAT A STATE OF
EMERGENCY EXISTS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY DUE TO THE IMPACTS OF
FEDERAL IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS AND SETTING FORTH ACTIONS
THE CITY SHOULD TAKE TO ADDRESS SUCH IMPACTS.

It passed 6-3, with Mayor Hoy and Councilors Gwyn and Matthews voting against it. I guess they are fine with the Trump administration trampling on constitutional rights and striking fear in hard-working migrants whose only “crime” is that they entered the United States without documentation in search of a better life for themselves and their families.

Keep that in mind next time Hoy, Gwyn, and Matthews are up for re-election.

Kudos to Councilor Vanessa Nordyke, who is running for Mayor against Julie Hoy, for sponsoring the resolution. A Salem Reporter story by Madeleine Moore  says:

“Reality is lawlessness has come to Salem, and it is high time we do something about it,” Nordyke said moments before voting on the declaration. “There are a lot of sectors of our community that feel gaslit, they’re told all the time that they’re not seeing what they’re seeing, that their feelings don’t matter and that they shouldn’t be heard,” she said, referring to testimony of people describing the threats federal agents can pose to families, students and businesses.

You can read the resolution here, or by clicking on this PDF file:
COS E Declaration Resolution Immigration

Here’s excerpts from it.

Whereas, the City of Salem recognizes and values the diverse contributions of all individuals, affirming its commitment to upholding the dignity and respect of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, ethnicity, immigration or refugee status, heritage, culture, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, ability, age, housing status, or economic status; and

Whereas, immigrants, foreign-born and refugee populations make up a vital portion of Salem’s community and economy, contributing significantly as friends, neighbors, workers, business owners, community and faith leaders, reminding us that immigration is not a threat to be managed but a legacy to be honored and a strength to be protected; and

Whereas, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers have reportedly and allegedly engaged in various types of conduct that infringe on the constitutional rights of members of the Salem community, including but not limited to: arresting and detaining individuals without affording due process rights; refusing to share information about the reason for an individual’s arrest or the location where an individual will be detained; routinely wearing masks and refusing to provide identification; and questioning people about their immigration status based on their race, ethnicity, language, accent, or occupation;

…NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY OF SALEM RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:

Section 1. Based on the recitals set forth above and pursuant to Salem Revised Code (SRC) 2.660-2.680, the City Council hereby declares that a state of emergency exists in the city of Salem related to the impacts of federal immigration enforcement.

Section 2. The emergency or threatened conditions include alleged illegal and unconstitutional actions by federal immigration enforcement.

Section 3. The damage or potential damage is: the unnecessary and allegedly unlawful tactics being used by federal immigration enforcement authorities generating widespread fear in the community, which cause our residents to be fearful of leaving their homes to go to work, school, access City services, take public transportation, attend medical appointments, and other necessary daily activities, children being denied access to public education, individuals being prevented from seeking necessary healthcare, negative impacts on local businesses, and residents being distrustful of and discouraged from working with local law enforcement to report, solve and prevent minor and serious crime.

…Section 6. The City of Salem reaffirms its commitment to being a welcoming and inclusive city and to shielding residents to the best of our ability from fear, discrimination, and unjust enforcement practices. In response to expanding federal immigration actions that threaten civil liberties and community trust, this declaration reiterates the City’s commitment to support and comply with Oregon’s Sanctuary Promise Laws, its status as an Inclusive and Sanctuary City, and directs that City resources will not be used to enforce federal immigration laws. By adopting this declaration, Salem strengthens its support of Oregon sanctuary laws and City policies, upholds its core values, and supports the well-being of all residents and visitors, especially immigrant and other vulnerable communities.

Section 7. The City Manager is hereby encouraged to take all necessary and proper actions that will help minimize or mitigate the effect of the emergency in a manner consistent with all applicable laws; and

Section 8. The City of Salem unequivocally condemns the misuse of immigration enforcement to detain and deport individuals who are lawfully present in the United States and simply exercising their constitutionally protected rights particularly when such actions are politically motivated or conducted without due process.

Section 9. The City of Salem declares that no matter when someone has joined our community or where they have come from, every person deserves to be free of fear and intimidation and to be treated with dignity and respect.

Section 10. The City of Salem condemns immigration enforcement actions that violate the law or U.S. or Oregon constitutions, targeting our students and families and calls for an immediate end to such actions, which are having a chilling effect throughout our schools, communities and our State.

Section 11. The City of Salem calls on all elected officials, including members of Congress from Oregon, to publicly denounce these unconstitutional actions, demand immediate oversight and transparency from immigration enforcement agencies, and work to ensure the rights of all individuals—regardless of immigration status—are fully protected under the Constitution.

Section 12. The City of Salem respectfully requests that members of Congress from Oregon enact a comprehensive approach to solve our broken immigration system in order to provide a realistic pathway to citizenship for all aspiring Americans.