UPDATE: The city commission will not move forward with becoming a sanctuary city.
12. New Business B. Direction from the City Commission was not to move forward w/ becoming a Sanctuary City. #BBCommissionMtg
— City of Boynton (@cityofboynton) December 6, 2017
EARLIER STORY:
Could the City of Boynton Beach become a safe haven for undocumented immigrants—what is now so commonly referred to as a “sanctuary city?" It’s on deck for discussion at Tuesday night’s city commission meeting
“This term sanctuary cities has become very politicized,” said Tim Gamwell, the assistant executive director of the Guatemalan-Maya Center in Palm Beach County.
The organization provides assistance to a large portion of undocumented families and refugees.
“The difficulty with the term sanctuary city is it’s not a specific set of laws or ordinances or regulations."
Gamwell says the conversation itself boils down to a matter of perception which he says ultimately impacts the actions of these families.
“How do they approach the police when it’s time to report a crime or they’re victims of a crime? Do they take their kids to school today or are they in fear of being deported,”said Gamwell.
He says, "immigrant families need to be consulted."
It’s still too early to tell what Boynton Beach may consider.
It’s generally understood that sanctuary cities tend to instruct their local law enforcement agencies to avoid tipping off or cooperating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
While the Boynton Beach Police Department isn’t taking a public stance, the police union is.
“That's going to allow illegal aliens who commit a crime to remain in that city and not call ICE and be deported, so we’re totally against it,” said John Kazajian president of the local PBA.
He doesn’t believe the argument that this will encourage these undocumented immigrants to report crime.
“It’s not proven. The individuals here illegally, they’re still going to stay quiet and they’re not going to come forward just ask us.”
Boynton Beach Commissioner Christina Romelus requested the topic for discussion at Tuesday's commission meeting.
She has not returned our calls to explain why she wants this to be explored for Boynton Beach.
Boynton Beach Police Chief Jeffrey Katz released the following statement regarding the proposal:
"The police department will not interject itself into discussions between policy-makers elected by the people we serve. We are committed to operating within the authority entrusted to us under the law, this is foundational under our governmental system of checks and balances."