Boston Is Sanctuary City, Councilor Reiterates to Trump

A Boston official is reaffirming Boston's position as a sanctuary city in response to President-elect Donald Trump's pledge to deport millions of illegal "criminal" immigrants.

The Boston Police Department does not participate in federal immigration raids and arrests. But with Trump headed for the White House, City Councilor Tito Jackson says it's time to send a message.

Jackson is disagreeing with Trump's immigration agenda, and says Boston shouldn't help with mass deportations.

"Boston passed the Trust Act in 2014, so officially, we are actually already a sanctuary city," Jackson told necn. "We want people in our community to know that you are allowed to pick up the phone and call the police."

Trump told CBS' "60 Minutes" that he's willing to deport or incarcerate between 2-3 million people illegally in this country and who "are criminal and have criminal records, gang members, drug dealers."

The president-elect repeatedly vowed to build a wall along the Mexican border during his campaign, and also insisted he would deport all 11 million people in this country illegally.

In Boston, though, Jackson says officials will not cooperate with such a sweep.

"Our police department and our city government is not going to participate in federal raids and federal immigration activity," Jackson said. "We want folks to know that this is a welcoming city, that we are compassionate, and that we will not allow you to be victimized in your neighborhoods and communities."

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