War of words escalates between Boston mayor and Trump border czar over deportation plans
BOSTON - A war or words has escalated between the incoming Trump Administration and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, who said the city will not cooperate with federal immigration officials should a campaign promise of mass deportations of immigrants be carried out.
"She's not very smart," said incoming Border Czar Tom Homan, who framed it as a public safety issue during a televised interview. "What I just said is President Trump's going to prioritize public safety threats."
Wu: Law will protect immigrants
Wu is among several democratic leaders vowing to fight the deportations, saying the law is on her side with the 10-year-old Trust Act that prohibits cooperation from law enforcement and schools in civil matters.
"People can say whatever they want about me, this isn't about me our public safety record speaks for itself," said Wu. She drew a distinction with cases involving criminal matters such as drugs, illegal weapons or human trafficking.
It also has advocates like Dr. Geralde Gabeau of Immigrant Family Services of Mattapan concerned. She's already preparing "Know Your Rights" pamphlets to be distributed in both English and Haitian Creole.
"Now we have to spend a lot of time and energy on protecting our community against what's coming their way," said Gabeau. The problem is immigration advocates aren't certain what's coming their way in the new administration.
"Mayors' number one responsibility is to protect their communities and that's exactly what we're going to do. So either she helps us or she gets the hell out of the way because we're going to do it," said Homan.
Immigration advocates preparing
Wu said protecting the city's residents from unlawful deportation is what she's doing.
"Whether it's in our school system, when it's interacting with police or other city departments, we do not ask about immigration status and we do not provide that information because we want these spaces to be where everyone can connect and therefore make everyone safer," said Wu.
Gabeau said her organization is more prepared, saying many Haitians were illegally sent home during the first Trump administration and she won't let that happen again.
"It's anxiety, it's panic attack all over. But again, our job is to be there to ask people to remain calm."