Local news

By law, Boston police cannot cooperate with ICE agents trying to deport migrants based solely on their immigration status.

The mayor of Boston Michelle Wu is beginning to publicly address how the city might respond to President-elect Donald Trump’s plans to carry out mass deportations of undocumented migrants.

In several recent media appearances, she has stressed that city resources and personnel, including local police, must not cooperate with federal agents trying to detain migrants on civil warrants.

“The idea that certain local law enforcement agencies will be required or expected to participate in mass deportations of residents who have not been part of serious criminal activity just to fulfill this campaign promise, it does not is something possible under the law. laws in Boston,” Wu said last week on GBH’s “Boston Public Radio.”

Trump’s promises to oversee mass deportations were at the center of his campaign. Now, all indications are that he will act on those promises as soon as he takes office in January. On Monday, Trump said on social media that he was preparing to declare a national emergency and use the US military to carry out deportations.

Leaders in blue states are bracing for Trump’s plans. Gov. Maura Healey said this month that her administration would not cooperate with federal authorities seeking to carry out mass deportations.

In Boston, year the existing law prohibits Boston police officers from coordinating with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in a number of scenarios. Asked about the possibility of federal agents carrying out mass deportations of Boston residents without the help of local law enforcement, Wu told GBH that her administration is actively planning a number of different scenarios. She said the federal government could face staffing and other logistical issues as it tries to follow through on Trump’s promises. Some of those promises are based on the full cooperation of local agencies, Wu said.

“Where that’s not the case … we have other mechanisms where we can identify spaces that might be best targeted and think about protections there,” Wu told GBH.

Researchers estimate that Trump’s plans could cost more than $300 billion, exacerbate labor shortages and require the hiring of hundreds of thousands of new government employees and law enforcement officers.

During an appearance on WCVB “On the RecordOn Sunday, Wu dismissed misconceptions about “sanctuary cities.” Sometimes this term is understood to mean a place that grants immunity to migrants even if they have committed serious criminal acts. That’s not the case in Boston, where local police can work with ICE “on matters of significant public safety, such as human trafficking, child exploitation, drug and gun trafficking, and cybercrime.”

Wu acknowledged that the city’s resources have been stretched by the recent influx of new migrants. That growth, combined with an ongoing housing crisis, has overwhelmed shelters across the state for more than a year. In Boston, city-run shelters were as full as they normally are only during the coldest winter months, she said.

At the beginning of this year, Melnea A. Cass Leisure Complex in Roxbury was used to house families in need of shelter about four months prior reopening to the public. Many residents disapproved of the move, saying it was unfair to locals who rely on the recreation centre. Wu has said publicly that she plans to run for a second term next year, and her response to Trump’s plans could heavily influence that race.

There are limits to what that response could include, and no city can override certain parts of the federal government’s agenda, Wu said.

“What we can do is make sure we do our part to protect our residents in every way we can, that we don’t cooperate with those efforts that actually threaten everyone’s safety, causing widespread fear and having a large-scale economic impact,” she said.

Even if logistical or legal issues affect Trump’s deportation plans, residents may fear local government and hesitate to contact local officials for help on any matter, Wu said. She wants to increase direct outreach to residents, making sure they are not afraid to contact the city or request services.

When the Trump administration begins to implement its plans next year, the resistance of blue states and cities will inevitably receive media coverage, and Trump frequently promises to attack the “enemies within.” Wu was asked about the possibility of Boston being potentially targeted by the federal government at an unrelated event Monday.

“Our city is always held up as a national example of what is possible. Historically, this can be used to try to destroy what it means for a community to be welcoming to all, but it’s even more important right now to provide proof that government is working well,” she said.