Sessions, as part of efforts to implement a January executive order issued by President Donald Trump, recently sent letters to nine jurisdictions across the country demanding proof they allow communication with federal authorities about unauthorized immigrants and warning that they risk losing federal grants.
A federal judge in California blocked the move to enforce the executive order, which takes aim at so-called sanctuary jurisdictions — those that refuse to ask people about immigration status or to help enforce federal immigration laws.
Del Pozo writes in his Facebook post that the federal grants Sessions sought to claw back, which are known formally as the [Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program], are named after a New York City police officer who was killed protecting the home of an immigrant. The program is typically referred to as JAG.
In 1988, Byrne, who was 22 at that time, was assigned to protect the home of a Guyanese resident in the Jamaica area of Queens who had called police to report on local drug dealers. While on duty outside the man’s home, Byrne was shot in the head and killed, according to del Pozo.
“I don’t care what a person’s immigration status is, I want them to call the police to report crimes in their neighborhood and not be scared of the consequences. We hold up our end of the deal by keeping routine immigration enforcement out of it,” the chief writes in his post.
“So consider for a moment that the attorney general wants to withhold a grant named after Officer Byrne from police departments committed to offering all immigrants the same protection from retaliation that Officer Byrne himself died providing. Sessions would scare immigrants from calling the police for the very reasons Byrne was posted to the street in Queens where he spent the last hours of his life,” del Pozo concludes.
The post had been shared 45 times, with 140 reactions and more than 40 comments, as of Friday afternoon.
Burlington has long had a policy not to ask about people’s immigration status during the provision of municipal services. It’s possible the Queen City could run afoul of Trump’s executive order, and the $40,000 JAG grant it receives could be in jeopardy if the order stands.
Mayor Miro Weinberger, who took aim at Trump’s perceived anti-immigrant policies in his State of the City address, has said previously that no one should be surprised the president is acting to fulfill his campaign promises, but pledged the city will continue to be guided its “inclusive values and longstanding practices.”
The Police Commission recently approved a new policy on fair and impartial policing after four public hearings. The policy incorporates input from the American Civil Liberties Union of Vermont and Migrant Justice, which advocates for unauthorized immigrant residents.
An ACLU attorney praised del Pozo’s words. “We are heartened by the chief’s comments. They show he values protecting all residents, regardless of immigration status, unlike Jeff Sessions,” said Vermont ACLU staff attorney Jay Diaz in a statement. “If Burlington adopts the fair and impartial policing policy, trains their officers on it, and holds them accountable to it, people should not be afraid to call the police for help.”
The policy is now before a City Council committee and will need approval from the full council before being implemented.
