Boston Mayor Michelle Wu defended her city’s immigration laws aggressively in a high-profile congressional hearing this week. Wu’s testimony in support of Boston’s decision to be a sanctuary city became one of the potent moments in the debate over immigration reform that grips the United States. The city’s policies to limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities are integral to building trust within immigrant communities, ensuring public safety, and upholding human rights, she said.
The debate around sanctuary cities — local jurisdictions that protect undocumented immigrants by limiting their interaction with federal authorities — has divided the country. In her testimony, Mayor Wu made the case that these policies were not just humane, they were also good for the overall safety and economic wellbeing of cities like Boston. As the national debate over immigration grows ever more polarized, Wu’s testimony at the hearing represents a window into the upcoming battle over sanctuary policies and the role that local governments may play in determining national immigration practices.
Support for Immigrant Communities in Boston
Boston’s sanctuary policies are based on a long tradition of supporting immigrant populations. For decades, large immigrant communities have called the city home, as people from every corner of the world contribute to New York’s rich cultural fabric. In cannons used in her defense, Mayor Wu stressed that Boston’s policies aim to protect its immigrant residents from fear of deportation and help them contribute to the city’s social, cultural, and economic fabric without fear.
“Boston is a city that thrives on diversity,” Wu said during the hearing. “Our sanctuary policies are about ensuring that all of our residents — regardless of immigration status — are safe, respected, and are able to live their lives with dignity.”
Boston Sanctuary Policies Have Not Led to Crime
Boston is among dozens of municipalities around the country with a so-called sanctuary city policy, which restricts cooperation with federal immigration agents. These policies generally bar local law enforcement from inquiring about people’s immigration status or from detaining people for federal immigration authorities unless they have been charged with a serious crime. These policies may not come without their fair share of uproar, yet supporters say they strengthen ties between the local police (working within the judicial branch) and immigrant communities.
As Mayor Wu noted in her testimony, sanctuary policies allow Boston to focus on keeping our entire community safe and make sure that immigrant communities are not living in the shadow of anxiety. Research shows that when undocumented immigrants fear being deported, they are less likely to report crimes or cooperate with law enforcement; that has the potential to impede investigations and compromise community safety. Boston’s sanctuary policies serve to create a better environment for immigrants, allowing all residents, regardless of documentation status, to contribute to the welfare of the community.
Public Safety and Legal Considerations
Mayor Wu’s testimony to Congress also highlighted the public safety benefits of sanctuary policies. Wu said the city’s immigration policies make it so that all residents can be assured they’ll be safe with local law enforcement, and that creates crime reporting, community engagement, and increased safety. Impacted immigrant communities may be less likely to report a crime, turn over evidence, or cooperate with police overall when they fear deportation. This builds a wall between law enforcement and the communities they are designed to protect.
In fact, studies have shown that sanctuary cities do not have higher crime than other cities, and actually tend to have lower crime than places that are more aggressive in immigration enforcement. A 2017 analysis from the Cato Institute likewise found little evidence that sanctuary policies were correlated with higher crime rates and, in some cases, were actually correlated with lower crime rates. And by building trust between immigrant communities and police, where they exist, sanctuary cities provide the conditions under which crime is more likely to be effectively countered.
Immigrant Economic and Cultural Contributions
Aside from the moral and safety arguments, Mayor Wu also put forward a strong economic case for Boston’s sanctuary policies. Immigrants are critical to the city’s economy; many are employed in key sectors like health care, construction, hospitality, and education. As found in data provided by the American Immigration Council, immigrants account for nearly 27% of Boston’s workforce, helping fuel the city’s economic vitality.
In addition, immigrants don’t only work in Boston; they also take on roles as entrepreneurs, innovators, and leaders within our community. Compared to native-born citizens, immigrants in Boston have a higher tendency to become entrepreneurs, with many immigrants who own small businesses that boost the local economy. And in a 2020 report from the National Bureau of Economic Research, researchers found that immigrants had started 25% of all new businesses in the U.S. between 1996 and 2017, a reminder of their status as economic engines in cities like Boston.
Mayor Wu said the city’s sanctuary policies meant that immigrants could prosper while not fearing deportation, allowing immigrants the stability they needed to boost the local economy. When you get immigrants to feel safe, the city knows that these individuals are able to succeed and thus strengthen the city overall.
The Sanctuary Cities Challenge
Nevertheless, sanctuary cities are not without challenges, despite their many advantages. Mayor Wu’s response by defending Boston’s policies comes as the national political landscape grows increasingly polarizing when it comes to immigration. While some states, especially Texas and Florida, have pursued aggressive steps to undermine sanctuary policies, some states, such as California and Massachusetts, have fought to preserve their sanctuary city status.
In her testimony, Mayor Wu noted the increasing tensions between state and federal governments over sanctuary policies. Others include a slew of fights over sanctuary cities, with multiple states suing, saying such policies are illegal and frustrate efforts at immigration enforcement. Advocates for sanctuary cities — such as Mayor Wu — argue local governments should decide what is best for their communities.
“Our immigration policy can’t be a one-size-fits-all,” Wu contended. “Cities like Boston, which are grounded in values of inclusivity and community, deserve the autonomy to enact policies that reflect the values of our residents.”
The Role of the Federal Government in Immigration Reform
Although the defense of sanctuary cities is primarily a local matter, Mayor Wu urged federal lawmakers to enact comprehensive immigration reform as well. The United States needs an immigration system that provides clear pathways to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, particularly those who have been in the country contributing to its economy for generations, she said.
“The immigration system is broken, and it’s time for Congress to act,” Wu said. “We need an immigration policy that unites families, provides pathways for hard-working immigrants and acknowledges the important contributions immigrants make to our nation.”
Wu’s push for federal immigration reform reflects a view held by many local leaders, who say sanctuary policies are a natural response to the federal government’s failure to deal with immigration issues. Until there’s substantive reform, local governments such as Boston’s are being left to figure out immigration law on their own, with little guidance — creating uncertainty for immigrant communities.
Tension for Sanctuary Cities Going Forward
As Mayor Wu’s robust defense of Boston’s sanctuary policies demonstrates, the future of sanctuary cities depends on local governments’ capacity to defend their rights against federal overreach. Many cities, such as Boston, do provide sanctuary to immigrants, serving as a community to others fleeing persecution, allowing such individuals to live without the fear of deportation. These policies not only have the moral and ethical implications for societies and individuals, but also deliver measurable positive outcomes for communities ranging from better public safety to increased economic development.
While the battle over immigration policy continues to play out nationally and state-wide, Mayor Wu’s testimony is a stark reminder that localized governments have the authority to enact their own solutions and protect their constituents, regardless of their immigration status. The actualization of that work on a national level will depend, in the coming years, on how the national political landscape evolves and whether Congress will finally rise above partisan gridlock to pass meaningful reforms that honor the values of cities like Boston.
Conclusion
Mayor Wu’s testimony in support of Boston’s immigration policies was a potent and timely reminder of the role that sanctuary cities play in protecting immigrant communities and creating inclusive communities. While the topics of immigration are often contentious and politicized, Boston is committed to ensuring that all its residents, regardless of immigration status, live free of fear and contribute to Boston’s thriving community. With the country again embroiled in a national debate over immigration, Mayor Wu’s giving sanctuary policies a fighting chance provides hope for a more inclusive and compassionate future.
FAQs
What is a sanctuary city?
A sanctuary city is a city that limits its cooperation with federal immigration authorities in order to protect undocumented immigrants from deportation. These policies aim to foster trust between immigrant communities and local law enforcement.
How do sanctuary city policies affect public safety?
Sanctuary policies can improve public safety by encouraging immigrant communities to report crimes, work with law enforcement, and seek assistance without fear of being deported. Sanctuary cities do not have higher crime rates than their non-sanctuary counterparts, according to research.
What do immigrants contribute to the economy of Boston?
Immigrants are part of the backbone of Boston’s economy, with immigrant workers filling essential roles in the city’s healthcare, education, and construction industries. Moreover, immigrants are far likelier than native-born American citizens to start their own businesses, creating jobs and contributing to local economic growth.
Why does Mayor Wu support sanctuary city policies?
Mayor Wu supports sanctuary city policies because she believes they enhance public safety, safeguard human rights, and enable immigrant communities to participate in the city’s economy and culture without the fear of deportation.
Where does the federal government fit in on immigration reform?
Washington plays a key role in setting national immigration policy. Mayor Wu and the other local leaders are calling for comprehensive immigration reform that will provide a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants and help solve the problems of the immigration system we have today.
