Belmont Is Now a 'Welcoming Community' for Immigrants: Report

BELMONT, MA – Belmont Town Meeting voted this week to pass Article 10, declaring the town a "welcoming community," according to the Belmont Citizen-Herald. The article, which asked Town Meeting members to back existing Belmont Police Department policies pertaining to immigration status, passed by a vote of 198-59.

While the declaration does not alter police policy, it was opposed by several residents and some Town Meeting members. Protesters and supporters appeared outside Belmont High School Monday night as the Town Meeting voted on the measure, the Citizen-Herald reported, and there was one verbal altercation between a resident backing Article 10 and a group against it.

Existing BPD policies supported by the declaration include not detaining people to investigate their immigration status and not inquiring about the immigration status of someone seeking the police's help unless it is relevant to a case.

>>>Read the full report from the Belmont Citizen-Herald

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