Mayor Michael Nutter of Philadelphia is expected to today sign an executive order to stop police from honoring detainer requests by ICE except in cases where the alien is convicted of a felony involving violence, and only when ICE secures a warrant.
The move was hailed by radical immigrant-rights advocates as a victory. Nicole Kligerman, a community organizer for the New Sanctuary Movement of Philadelphia, said the executive order is a “huge step forward” for welcoming immigrant families in the city, and called it “one of the most progressive in the country.” Latino activist, Erika Almiron, executive director of Juntos, said the order has important national implications: “Philadelphia is in the vanguard of showing how to start ending the deportations of our families and our community members, and is a great example at the national level and to showing President Obama what he can do to end deportations.”
Posted by Lewis Hubbard 4/16/14