DOCSLIB.ORG

SANCTUARY” POLICIES: WHAT ARE the DECISIONS FACING STATE and LOCAL GOVERNMENTS? by Ava Ayers*

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
SANCTUARY” POLICIES: WHAT ARE the DECISIONS FACING STATE and LOCAL GOVERNMENTS? by Ava Ayers* Updated March 19, 2019 EXPLAINER “SANCTUARY” POLICIES: WHAT ARE THE DECISIONS FACING STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS? by Ava Ayers* It is tempting to think of a “sanctuary” as a The word “sanctuary” has no legal jurisdiction that answers “no” to these definition; it can refer to a diverse array of questions. But real answers are rarely that state and local policies on immigration simple. Every jurisdiction, for example, enforcement. shares information with federal authorities, This explainer gives an overview of the kinds regardless of whether it calls itself a of state and local policies that are called “sanctuary.” Thus, the final choice each “sanctuary.” Policies in this area fall jurisdiction makes—whether to publicly somewhere on a spectrum from full support refer to itself as a “sanctuary”—can be for immigration enforcement to active confusing, or even misleading. resistance. Many jurisdictions are No jurisdiction is purely a sanctuary, and no somewhere in the middle—neither jurisdiction supports federal immigration supporting nor resisting federal immigration enforcement to the fullest possible extent. enforcement, but staying neutral. So, to understand the policies behind the State and local governments make four word “sanctuary,” we need to understand kinds of choices about immigration the range of choices governments make in enforcement: each category. • Should they use their resources I. Whether to Use Investigative (personnel, time, and so on) to Resources to Support Immigration participate in federal enforcement Enforcement activities? • Should they share information about State and local power to participate in noncitizens with federal authorities? immigration enforcement is limited. The • Should they detain noncitizens at the federal government has exclusive power request of the federal government? over the regulation of immigration, so states • Should they grant federal immigration and localities can’t make their own agents access to physical sites controlled immigration-enforcement laws.1 But state by the state or locality? law-enforcement officials can participate in 1 GOVERNMENT LAW CENTER AT ALBANY LAW SCHOOL WWW.ALBANYLAW.EDU/GLC/IMMIGRATION “SANCTUARY” POLICIES: AN EXPLAINER immigration enforcement if they choose; for Although localities operating under 287(g) example, it’s generally permissible for state perform federal immigration-enforcement law-enforcement officers to ask questions tasks, the agreements do not provide about immigration status.2 funding to reimburse the costs of those activities, only the cost of training. Thus, states and localities must make choices about whether to participate directly Contributing resources without becoming in federal immigration enforcement by deputies. 287(g) agreements are only one contributing state and local resources like way in which localities can participate in personnel, time, use of equipment, and the immigration enforcement. Jurisdictions that money it takes to provide those resources. want to support immigration enforcement can do so informally, without a 287(g) The federal government cannot compel local agreement, by riding along with ICE officers, law-enforcement personnel to participate in conducting joint investigations, or by investigations.3 So local authorities must sharing investigative information with ICE. make choices about the extent to which they Many jurisdictions do so. For example, will participate in immigration court officers might help ICE make arrests in investigations. States and localities have state courthouses (advocates have reported several options. this happening in New York State Becoming ICE deputies: 287(g) courthouses7). agreements. The most aggressive way for Staying neutral. Most United States localities to participate in immigration jurisdictions have chosen not to enter into enforcement is to partner with the federal 287(g) agreements. Many have adopted agency that enforces immigration law, U.S. policies under which they do not participate Immigration and Customs Enforcement in immigration investigations or share (ICE), in what are known as “287(g)” information with ICE. But these policies agreements.4 Under the 287(g) program, the almost always have exceptions. For example, federal government deputizes local law- if local authorities are investigating a drug- enforcement agents as agents of ICE. trafficking network, and ICE is investigating The 287(g) program is voluntary; no some of the same people, most local policies jurisdiction can be required to participate in allow the exchange of information. It is it.5 287(g) agreements are made between difficult to define “neutrality” or “sanctuary” ICE and local law-enforcement officials, in such situations. which means that in New York State, it is Efforts to undermine federal enforcement. independently elected sheriffs who make While most “sanctuary” policies aim for a decisions at the county level. For cities or kind of neutrality—that is, nonparticipation towns, it is law-enforcement officials who in immigration enforcement—there are enter the agreement, but those officials are cases where localities have more directly typically subject to oversight from other attempted to undermine federal elected officials. In New York State, enforcement efforts. Rensselaer County is currently the only 287(g) jurisdiction.6 For example, the mayor of Oakland in February 2018 made a public announcement 2 GOVERNMENT LAW CENTER AT ALBANY LAW SCHOOL WWW.ALBANYLAW.EDU/GLC/IMMIGRATION “SANCTUARY” POLICIES: AN EXPLAINER warning noncitizens of a planned ICE cause to believe that the noncitizen is sweep.8 It’s unclear what impact this had; “removable” (i.e., deportable). Attorney General Sessions accused the Detainer requests that the state or locality mayor of being responsible for “800 wanted “maintain custody of the alien for a period criminals that are now at large in that not to exceed 48 hours beyond the time community,” prompting ICE’s local when he/she would otherwise have been spokesperson to resign, accusing Sessions released from [state or local] custody to and agency officials of lying about the allow DHS to assume custody.”11 (The impact of the mayor’s statement.9 In any detainer form also requests that the locality event, this sort of resistance by local officials give DHS notice before releasing the is very unusual. detainee; see the discussion of information- sharing, below.) Detainers are not a II. Whether to Detain Noncitizens at guarantee of deportation; in Texas, for Federal Authorities’ Request example, only 15% of detainers end up leading to deportation.12 Another choice states and localities must make is whether to detain or hold Detainers are requests, not commands, so noncitizens in custody at the request of there is nothing unlawful about declining to federal authorities. comply with them. Most “sanctuary” policies include a provision stating that the In some cases, a noncitizen in local custody jurisdiction will not honor detainers. Some is the subject of a criminal warrant—i.e., other jurisdictions decline to honor detainers one issued by a judge upon a showing of simply because it may be unlawful to honor probable cause to believe that the noncitizen them. in question has engaged in criminal conduct. Every jurisdiction of which we are aware Is it lawful to comply with detainers? honors criminal warrants. There is a significant legal question about whether it is lawful for a state or locality to But being present in the United States hold a noncitizen in custody beyond the without authorization is not, by itself, a time when there is an independent reason to crime. Therefore, most of the allegedly detain them. It is generally a violation of the unauthorized immigrants whom ICE might Fourth Amendment to hold someone in seek to detain are not subject to criminal custody without probable cause to believe warrants. Instead, ICE asks localities to they have committed a crime, and detain them by issuing a document called a immigration detainers offer reason to “detainer.”10 believe only that the person has engaged in Detainers. When a state or locality has a civil offense. Thus, multiple courts have incarcerated a noncitizen for non- found it unlawful to comply with detainers, immigration-related reasons, and ICE including an appellate court in New York becomes aware that the noncitizen is in State.13 The Third Circuit has allowed a custody, ICE may issue a detainer. The person mistakenly held pursuant to an ICE detainer indicates that there is probable detainer to sue the county for money damages.14 Because of these precedents, the 3 GOVERNMENT LAW CENTER AT ALBANY LAW SCHOOL WWW.ALBANYLAW.EDU/GLC/IMMIGRATION “SANCTUARY” POLICIES: AN EXPLAINER New York State Sheriffs’ Association advised noncitizens being removable or sheriffs in 2014 not to comply with inadmissible.17 detainer.15 I Indeed, the risk of deportation resulting It is important not to overgeneralize about from criminal conviction is so significant jurisdictions’ polices on detainers. Many that the Supreme Court has found criminal jurisdictions that generally decline to comply defense attorneys obligated to know, and with detainers will comply with them for advise their clients of, the potential certain kinds of criminal convictions. For immigration consequences of a guilty plea.18 example, New York City (a prominent Thus, prosecutors’ decisions about what “sanctuary”) has a policy of complying with charges to file can result in noncitizens detainers for noncitizens convicted of “one being deported—even
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Tracking the Biden Agenda on Immigration Enforcement
    SPECIAL REPORT TRACKING THE BIDEN AGENDA ON IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT by Jorge Loweree and Aaron Reichlin-Melnick About the American Immigration Council The American Immigration Council works to strengthen America by shaping how America thinks about and acts towards immigrants and immigration and by working toward a more fair and just immigration system that opens its doors to those in need of protection and unleashes the energy and skills that immigrants bring. Through its research and analysis, the American Immigration Council provides policymakers, the media, and the general public with information about how the immigration system works, the impact of policy proposals, and the crucial role that immigration plays in our communities and workplaces. Visit us at www.AmericanImmigrationCouncil.org and www.ImmigrationImpact.com. About the Authors Jorge Loweree is the Director of Policy at the American Immigration Council, where he directs the Council’s administrative and legislative advocacy and leads the Council’s efforts to provide lawmakers, policymakers, advocates, and the general public with accurate and timely information about the role of immigrants in the United States. Previously, Jorge spent ten years in a variety of positions with the U.S. House of Representatives, most recently as Senior Counsel for Immigration Law and Policy, working on a wide range of enforcement and benefits issues. Jorge holds a J.D. from the University of Colorado Law School and Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from the Saint Mary’s University. Aaron Reichlin-Melnick is Policy Counsel at the American Immigration Council, where he works primarily on immigration court issues and the intersection of immigration law and policy.
    [Show full text]
  • Sanctuary Cities and the Federal Government Power Struggle: How Sanctuary Cities Are Fighting Back
    Public Interest Law Reporter Volume 22 Issue 2 Article 2 2017 Sanctuary Cities and the Federal Government Power Struggle: How Sanctuary Cities are Fighting Back Conor Grealish Follow this and additional works at: https://lawecommons.luc.edu/pilr Part of the Civil Rights and Discrimination Commons, Criminal Procedure Commons, Environmental Law Commons, and the Human Rights Law Commons Recommended Citation Conor Grealish, Sanctuary Cities and the Federal Government Power Struggle: How Sanctuary Cities are Fighting Back, 22 Pub. Interest L. Rptr. 73 (2017). Available at: https://lawecommons.luc.edu/pilr/vol22/iss2/2 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by LAW eCommons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Public Interest Law Reporter by an authorized editor of LAW eCommons. For more information, please contact law- [email protected]. Grealish: Sanctuary Cities and the Federal Government Power Struggle: How S No. 2 * Spring 2017 Sanctuary Cities and the Federal Government Power Struggle: How Sanctuary Cities are Fighting Back Conor Grealish Recently, President Trump signed an executive order that would limit fed- eral funding to sanctuary cities that do not comply with the administration's immigration policies.' The purpose of the order is to increase the "national security and public safety of the United States."2 The order claims that the actions of sanctuary cities have caused "immeasurable harm" to the safety of the American people and that "many aliens who illegally enter the United States and those who overstay or otherwise
    [Show full text]
  • Senate Bill 4: Police Officers' Opinions on Texas's Ban of Sanctuary Cities
    SENATE BILL 4: POLICE OFFICERS’ OPINIONS ON TEXAS’S BAN OF SANCTUARY CITIES Megan E. Reed* TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction .....................................................68 I. Background on SB4 ..........................................69 A. History of Sanctuary Cities in the United States .................69 B. Events Leading to SB4’s Enactment ........................... 74 C. SB4’s Provisions ...........................................77 1. ICE-DETAINER PROVISION ................................78 2. ENFORCEMENT-COOPERATION PROVISION ....................78 D. Similar State Legislation ....................................79 II. In Practice, What Will SB4 Change? ...........................82 A. Racial Profiling v. Probable Cause ............................82 B. Reports to Police by Victims and Witnesses .....................85 1. LOWER CRIME REPORTING AND COOPERATION ................85 2. U AND T VISAS .........................................87 C. Inquiries Into Immigration Status .............................91 1. THE NEED TO IDENTIFY PEOPLE ...........................91 2. UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS CARRYING NON-U.S. IDENTIFICATION . 93 D. Jails and Detainers .........................................96 1. BASIS FOR DETAINERS ....................................96 2. SB4’S IMPACT ON HONORED ICE DETAINERS IN TEXAS .........97 3. FOURTH AMENDMENT CONCERNS. 99 E. Officers’ Reputations Within Their Communities ...............104 F. Training on Immigration Law. 107 G. Resource Reallocation and the Tenth Amendment ..............108 III.
    [Show full text]
  • CLINIC Sanctuary Cities Toolkit
    CLINIC Sanctuary Cities Toolkit Contents What is a Sanctuary City? CLINIC Sanctuary Cities Toolkit ..........................1 The phrase "Sanctuary city" originates from the religious immigration-centered movement of the 1980s...Churches, What is a Sanctuary City? ........................................................ 1 synagogues, and other religious institutions opposed the What Is the Existing Federal Policy? ......................................... 2 return of Central American refugees to the countries where they had been persecuted. This became known as the What Counties and Cities Have Sanctuary City Policies Sanctuary Movement." That Separate Federal Immigration Enforcement from Local Law Enforcement? ...................................................................... 2 The term “sanctuary city” is a misnomer as some have What Are the States’ Policy Choices? ...................................... 3 confused “sanctuary city” policies with the notion that immigrants in these communities are insulated from any Public Policy Argument: Economic Impact of Immigration in immigration enforcement action brought against them. America ...................................................................................... 3 However, nothing in a "sanctuary city" policy prevents The Francis Effect: Harness the Power of the Pope and federal enforcement actions.1 Catholic Social Teaching ........................................................... 4 Some cities and localities, including San Francisco, have Coalition-Building and Finding Allies
    [Show full text]
  • BERKELEY WILL REMAIN SANCTUARY CITY, MAYOR-ELECT VOWS Arreguín Holds Firm Against Trump Administration Threats
    BERKELEY WILL REMAIN SANCTUARY CITY, MAYOR-ELECT VOWS Arreguín Holds Firm Against Trump Administration Threats BERKELEY, Calif. (Nov. 22, 2016)—Flanked by a majority of the Berkeley City Council, Mayor-elect Jesse Arreguín announced Tuesday that Berkeley will remain a ‘sanctuary city,’ rebuking threats made by President-elect Donald Trump to penalize cities that refuse to turn over undocumented immigrants to federal officials. “Berkeley will remain a beacon of light during this dark time,” Arreguín said. “From hard-working families in our neighborhoods to Dreamers in our classrooms, our city will be a safe space.” President-elect Donald Trump has threatened to cut off federal funding to ‘sanctuary cities’—over 300 cities across America—whose local governments don’t alert federal immigration officials when they discover undocumented immigrants. Many of these cities are also refusing to cave to threats from Washington—including San Francisco, Oakland, Los Angeles, New York City, and Chicago. Arreguín, who becomes Berkeley’s first Latino mayor on December 1, said this kind of strong solidarity amongst like-minded cities reduces the likelihood that Trump’s Administration will actually act on such draconian threats. “Trump’s election has had a chilling effect on race relations across America, and now there’s a clear and present danger to families in our own city,” said Arreguin “They’re truly scared, and our best line of defense are cities standing up to this president.” Berkeley currently receives approximately $11.5 million in federal funding, according to city staff. Most of it helps the City’s most vulnerable on issues such as affordable housing, supportive care, emergency shelter and health services.
    [Show full text]
  • What Is the Sanctuary for Peace Ordinance? If We Are Already Acting in This Manner, Why Does Salem Want Or Need to Adopt This Or
    What is the Sanctuary for Peace Ordinance? If we are already acting in this manner, why does Salem want or need to adopt this Ordinance? Does this Ordinance support current state and federal laws? Is the Salem Police Department policy cited in the proposed Ordinance in compliance with state and federal laws? Will the City jeopardize federal funding with adoption of the Sanctuary for Peace Ordinance How much federal funding does Salem receive Would passing the Ordinance jeopardize public safety by allowing criminals who are undocumented to reside in Salem? How will this Ordinance improve public safety efforts? Will adoption of this Ordinance prevent federal officials from enforcing immigration laws in Salem? Why do we need an Ordinance? Can’t we simply adopt a resolution or policy similar to the City of Beverly? Is it legal for the City Council to even be taking a vote to become a Sanctuary City? Is the proposed Ordinance and police policy in violation of 8 USC 1324? Does this mean the Salem Police now, or in the future if the Ordinance is adopted, can pick and choose which arrestees they report to federal authorities? Will adoption of this Ordinance make Salem a “Sanctuary City”? How many Sanctuary Cities are there? Why does the Ordinance have to be called “Sanctuary”? When will there be forums, discussions, or meetings on the Ordinance? Where can find a copy of the proposed Ordinance and the current Police Department policy? Who has been involved in drafting this document? 1. What is the Sanctuary for Peace Ordinance? The proposed Ordinance codifies existing City practices and Police Department policies.
    [Show full text]
  • State of Immigrants in LA County
    State of Immigrants, 1 Los Angeles County State of Immigrants in LA County January 2020 USC Center for the Study of Immigrant Integration and release of this report. Finally, thank you to CCF, State of Immigrants, 2 (CSII) would like to thank everyone involved in the James Irvine Foundation, Bank of America, and Los Angeles County producing the first annual State of Immigrants in Jonathan Woetzel for their support which made L.A. County (SOILA) report. The goal was to create a SOILA possible. resource for community-based organizations, local governments, and businesses in their immigrant We would also like to extend deep appreciations integration efforts. To that end, we sought the to the members of the CCF Council on Immigrant wisdom of a range of partners that have made this Integration for commissioning this report and for report what it is. their feedback and suggestions along the way. A special thank you to all organizations interviewed The work here—including data, charts, tables, for case studies that donated their time and Acknowledgments writing, and analysis—was prepared by Dalia expertise to further bolster our analysis. Gonzalez, Sabrina Kim, Cynthia Moreno, and Edward-Michael Muña at CSII. Graduate research assistants Thai Le, Sarah Balcha, Carlos Ibarra, and Blanca Ramirez heavily contributed to charts, writing, and analysis. Thank you to Manuel Pastor and Rhonda Ortiz at CSII, as well as Efrain Escobedo and Rosie Arroyo from the California Community Foundation (CCF) for their direction, feedback, and support that fundamentally shaped this report. Sincere appreciations to Justin Scoggins (CSII) for his thoughtful and thorough data checks.
    [Show full text]
  • Download Sample Resolution Language
    Getting a Sanctuary City Resolution Passed: The language below was created for use by a variety of activists and advocates working on sanctuary. Therefore, you should feel free to use, change or amend as needed. Additionally, we have included a couple of links to resolutions that have been passed in cities across the country. California’s Values Act Cincinnati Sanctuary City Resolution Culver City Sanctuary City Resolution Hillsboro Sanctuary City Resolution Minneapolis Sanctuary City Resolution Portland Sanctuary City Resolution San Francisco Sanctuary City Resolution San Leandro Sanctuary City Resolution Santa Ana Sanctuary City Resolution Seattle Sanctuary City Resolution Urbana Sanctuary City Resolution Watsonville Sanctuary City Resolution SAMPLE RESOLUTION LANGUAGE: Whereas the United States is a country of immigrants and denying new immigrants entry is a violation of our ideals Whereas the United States is a country that values religious freedom and the inclusion of people of all faiths Whereas the United States has existed as a refuge for many people around the world Whereas the United States has a responsibility to provide sanctuary for those who are forced to migrate because of the wars, intervention, and militarism on the part of this country WHEREAS, Immigrants and refugees of all nations have contributed to the economic and social fabric of the United States Whereas the United States should reject its history of discriminatory immigration policies that for example, resulted in the Chinese Exclusion Act Whereas refugees in the United States have contributed 63 billion more in government revenues than the cost of hosting them Whereas the United States has allotted 53 cents of every discretionary federal dollar to the military in 2018 – funds that are used to perpetuate war and which cause forced displacement Whereas, instead of accepting entry of refugees fleeing from wars the U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • Sanctuary City
    SANCTUARY CITY Sanctuary Cities have been threatened with losing federal funding if they do not comply with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. DEFINITION The designation “sanctuary city” does not have a precise legal denition. It is a broad term used for any city or county (or state) that has policies or practices in place to limit involvement in federal immigration enforcement actions. Such policies can be formal laws or informal practices. Limiting involvement can be for nancial or legal reasons, and can protect undocumented immigrants from being detained or deported. HOW MANY JURISDICTIONS HAVE “SANCTUARY” POLICIES OR PRACTICES? 39 Cities (including Chicago, NY, Boston, and Los Angeles) 364 Counties 5 States (California, Oregon, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Vermont) Compiling a list of sanctuary cities is challenging. In some places, ofcials have publicly declared their city to be a sanctuary, but the city may not have actual laws or policies in place. Neighboring counties—or cities within the same county—may have different policies. WHAT POLICIES OR PRACTICES DISTINGUISH A SANCTUARY? Some sanctuary cities decline to use city or state tax dollars to enforce federal immigration laws. Many prohibit local ofcials from asking people about their immigration status. For example, in Los Angeles, the police are not allowed to stop people solely to establish their immigration status as it could cause racial proling. Other cities do not base the allocation of city services on citizenship and do not ask about, or investigate, citizenship status. Some undocumented citizens can obtain driver’s licenses. Chicago has a “Welcoming City Ordinance,” a collection of laws that make it clear that Chicago will not help investigate the citizenship status of individuals unless mandated by law or a court, will not discriminate by issuing city services depending on citizenship, and will not cooperate with immigration detention requests.
    [Show full text]
  • Rapid Response to Anti-Sanctuary City Bill Massachusetts Trust Act Coalition Takes on an Anti-Immigrant State Bill
    Rapid Response to Anti-Sanctuary City Bill Massachusetts Trust Act Coalition takes on an anti-immigrant state bill Gabriel Camacho AFSC Cambridge, MA National Context A number of anti-sanctuary city bills are introduced in Congress in 2015 Most of these bills would: Deny federal funds to local law enforcement Compel local law enforcement to honor ICE detainers Contain other punitive measures Senator David Vitter’s bill is defeated Would convert local law enforcement into ICE agents States Attacks on Sanctuary Cities Tennessee North Carolina Florida Massachusetts New Hampshire (The state has no Sanctuary Cities but lets not have facts in the way of xenophobia and racism) H. 1856 “An Act Relative to Sanctuary Cities and Towns” “..any city or town which fails to enforce federal immigration laws shall not receive unrestricted general government aid, as prescribed by the general appropriations act; provided, quarterly payments of unrestricted general government aid to be disbursed to the city or town shall cease upon verification of the failure of the city or town to comply with federal immigration laws. Failure to comply with federal immigration laws shall include, but is not limited to, a declaration of “sanctuary city” status by the chief executive or executive board or legislative branch of the city or town.” Problems with H. 1856 Poorly written Can cities or towns enforce federal immigration laws? What city or town department and/or personnel enforce federal immigration laws? What about the Supremacy Clause? What did
    [Show full text]
  • Los Angeles City Resolution [DRAFT - for Internal Use; Do Not Circulate] RESOLUTION NO
    Los Angeles City Resolution [DRAFT - For Internal Use; Do Not Circulate] RESOLUTION NO. XXXXX A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF' THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA TO WELCOME, PROTECT AND DEFEND ALL RESIDENTS BY MAKING LOS ANGELES A SANCTUARY CITY WHEREAS, Los Angeles is home to millions of people from all walks of life, of different races, religions, sexual orientations, and national and ethnic origins. The City values and celebrates this diversity, winch makes our community and our economy strong and vibrant; WHEREAS, a relationship of trust between the City and all residents, regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, ethnicity, or immigration status, is essential for accomplishing core City functions, incluaing protecting the safety and civil and human rights of all residents; WHEREAS, this trust is threatened when the City is entangled with federal immigration enforcement programs, with the result that immigrant community members fear approaching police when they are victims of, and witnesses to, crimes; seeking basic services, and attending school, to the detriment of the public safety and well-being of all City residents. WHEREAS, the enforcement of federal civil immigration law falls exclusively within the authority of the federal government. No City department, agency, or commission, including the Los Angeles Police Department, has any inherent authority or duty to investigate violations of federal civil immigration law or to assist in enforcement of such laws, WHEREAS, the creation of a national registry
    [Show full text]
  • Resource Guide for Immigrants
    FREE WELCOME TO JERSEY CITY A Resource Guide for Immigrants DIVISION OF IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES DR.MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. CITY HALL ANNEX 1 JACKSON SQUARE | JERSEY CITY, NJ 07305 The New Colossus Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame, with conquering limbs astride from land to land; Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand a mighty woman with a torch, whose flame is the imprisoned lighting, and her name Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command the air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame. “Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she with silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, Ellis Island, located in the New York harbor The wretched refuse of your teeming between the states of New York and New Jersey, was once a port of entry that shore. functioned as an immigrant inspection site Send these, the homeless, from 1982 to 1954. Ellis Island served as a gateway to new beginnings for immigrants tempest-tost to me, coming from Europe. I lift my lamp beside the golden Alongside Ellis Island, the Statue of door!” Liberty was one of the first things immigrants -Emma Lazarus travelling to the United States would see. The Statue of Liberty stands high as a symbol of November 2nd, 1883 freedom in the Hudson River. Lady Liberty was a gift from France, to honor the alliance between France and United States during the American Revolution. The monument continues to serve as a beacon of hope shining bright for all newcomers from all over the world.
    [Show full text]