A caution to faith-based immigrant aid, rights and legal advice groups

Democratic leaders in “sanctuary cities” are in retreat.

Faith-based non-profits need to carefully consider how they advocate for immigrants.

If they encourage or provide road-maps for breaking federal laws, the faith-based leaders could be arrested and charged for hindering federal law enforcement agents. i.e. obstruction of justice.

More dangerously, if faith-based non-profits give guidance on how to avoid federal law enforcement, the non-profit leaders could be charged with conspiracy to commit a crime or some lesser charge.

Legal aid to challenge an immigrant law, procedure or an arrest is okay.

This cautious approach is what is moving many mayors of sanctuary cities to be more cautious in their rhetoric and even drop the name “sanctuary city” in favor of something like “welcoming city.”

ICE is making very clear that they will arrest lawyers and other advocates who cross the line from legal defense to aiding and abetting breaking the law.

The New York Times reports, “Some cities, including Minneapolis, have since embraced the less politically charged phrase “welcoming city,’ while keeping policies in place that limit local law enforcement agencies’ cooperation with federal immigration officials.

In New York City, the country’s largest sanctuary city, Mayor Eric Adams has staked out positions on immigration that align more closely with Mr. Trump’s than with those of his fellow Democrats.

In Chicago, a small group of City Council members tried last week to weaken an ordinance banning the Police Department’s cooperation with federal immigration officials, an effort meant to signal to Mr. Trump that during his second term, the city was open to working with him. The effort failed, but it revealed division among Chicago’s leaders.

And in Connecticut, which decided in 2019 to limit cooperation with immigration agents, William Tong, the attorney general, recently referred to the word ‘sanctuary’ as ‘divisive.’ ‘It puts a target on our backs, and it puts a target on all of your backs,’ he said at a public forum.’”