BOSTON — Clergy leaders and advocates gathered at the state house Tuesday to express their outrage over the exclusion of several amendments aimed at protecting people living the country illegally.
That includes a pared down version of the Safe Communities Act, which prevents local police from enforcing federal immigration orders.
The decision lawmakers had was whether to make Massachusetts a sanctuary state. The house reportedly couldn’t find consensus and advocates say it’s going to hurt those families here in Massachusetts.
Immigrant advocates delivered black ribbons and letters after amendments aimed at protecting people who are living here illegally was excluded from the final state budget.
“We’re not asking to change the laws in a major way,” Damaris Velasquez, with Alpha Immigration Legal Services, said. “We’re just asking them to pass four simple amendments that will protect our immigrant families.”
Organizers of Tuesday’s demonstration say the ribbons represent their mourning over what they call a lack of leadership and want lawmakers to reconsider. “They’re afraid of being separated and that there is no right way to come here,” Cherish Casey said.
After getting senate approval, the house failed to pass a version of the state budget that includes amendments preventing law enforcement from asking anyone about their immigration status or enforcing federal immigration orders.
“We’re not asking ICE not to do what they’re supposed to do,” Velasquez said. “The federal government has the right to do what they’re going to do, but at least our local police officers, we’re just asking for them just to be police officers.”
A policy ensuring people are informed of their right to a lawyer also failed to make it into the house version of the budget.
We spoke to a woman named Mirium, whose husband was deported just weeks ago, leaving her alone with two small kids.
“She’s afraid for her family because now they’re separated, she doesn’t know what to do,” she said through a translator. “She’s now left with her three kids who are asking for their father; where their father is and why he’s not with them. So, it’s very difficult.”
MORE: Thousands in Boston join nationwide immigration rights protests
Cox Media Group
