Trump's Immigration Orders 'Rooted In Racism' Says Windsor Terrace and Kensington Councilman

WINDSOR TERRACE and KENSINGTON, BROOKLYN — Windsor Terrace and Kensington Councilman Brad Lander joined other Council members Thursday in denouncing President Donald Trump's recent executive orders on immigration enforcement.

Among other things, Trump's orders direct Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to broaden its definition of which immigrants are "criminals," meaning ICE will have more power to deport undocumented individuals. The agency's Enforcement and Removal Operations office will also be tripled in size under the orders.

Furthermore, Trump ordered federal funds cut to "sanctuary cities" like New York, which don't report undocumented residents to federal authorities.

A Thursday statement put out jointly by the New York City Council's Black, Latino, and Asian Caucus (BLAC) and the Progressive Caucus declared that the groups are standing "in fierce opposition to President Trump’s executive orders." Lander is a member of the Progressive Caucus.

"These actions are rooted in racism, protectionism, and xenophobia, and they harken to the ugliest moments in modern human history," the statement says of Trump's orders. "We are alarmed and outraged at the President’s regressive proposals and his continual affront to immigrant communities and threats to cities that protect them. We unequivocally rebuke these executive orders as obstacles to unity and insults to the rich cultural contributions of our nation’s immigrant population."

"We will continue to stand in solidarity with Muslim and immigrant communities and ensure that we live in a city that is a sanctuary for all New Yorkers," the statement concludes.

In a separate statement, Lander said that, “New York City will not be bullied by President-elect Trump’s xenophobic Executive Orders into abandoning the core rights and values that define our diverse immigrant city."

The full BLAC and Progressive Caucus statement is reprinted below:

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The New York City Council’s Black, Latino, and Asian Caucus (BLAC) and Progressive Caucus (PC) stand together in fierce opposition to President Trump’s executive orders implementing more aggressive exclusion and deportation operations for immigrants and the announced executive order banning entry of refugees and other migrants from majority-Muslim countries. These actions are rooted in racism, protectionism, and xenophobia, and they harken to the ugliest moments in modern human history.

Members of the City Council Progressive Caucus and the BLAC unite under the charge to create a more just and equal New York for all New Yorkers, regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or documentation status. As champions of progressive values in New York City and advocates for New York City’s communities of color, our Members are often on the front lines against institutional racism and other discriminatory practices—especially those threatening constitutional protections. We are alarmed and outraged at the President’s regressive proposals and his continual affront to immigrant communities and threats to cities that protect them. We unequivocally rebuke these executive orders as obstacles to unity and insults to the rich cultural contributions of our nation’s immigrant population.

Our caucuses have long fought against Islamophobia and xenophobia, most recently joining together in 2016 to adopt Resolution 1230 “[d]eclaring support for Muslim communities, affirming the religious pluralism of the United States, and urging all residents to stand together for peace and understanding,” and to adopt Resolution 1321 “[a]ffirming that despite president-elect Donald Trump’s senseless threats, New York City will remain a Sanctuary City for immigrant residents.” We will continue to stand in solidarity with Muslim and immigrant communities and ensure that we live in a city that is a sanctuary for all New Yorkers.

Top image courtesy of sean hobson on Flickr