Cincinnati Now a ‘Sanctuary city.’ What’s That Mean?
It took a lot of hard work but today it happened. And a lot of the credit for that final straw goes to Donald Trump and his from-here-on-out-to-be-known-as infamous Muslim Ban.
Cincinnati is defying President Donald Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigration, joining a group of major U.S. cities in welcoming people who are in the country without permission.
Standing amid several of the region’s Muslim, Catholic, Jewish and political leaders, Mayor John Cranley on Monday proudly announced Cincinnati as a so-called “sanctuary city.” It means Cincinnati will not enforce federal immigration laws against people who are here illegally, something the city already has been doing.
“We have put the whole world on notice that we intend to live up to the Statue of Liberty ideals,” Cranley said. He added that being a sanctuary city “is a badge of honor.”
And this didn’t just happen out of the blue today. Two people were a very important part of the struggle to get to today’s announcement and their efforts should not be pushed to the side:
Cincinnati already has taken steps to be a “sanctuary city” the past two years, and Democratic council members Yvette Simpson and Chris Seelbach had been working on a plan to designate the city as such in recent months. Simpson is running against Cranley in this year’s mayoral race, but she stood alongside other leaders during the mayor’s press conference and did not want to politicize the matter.
“I wish we could’ve gotten here sooner,” Simpson said, “but I’m just glad we’re doing it now.”
More: Cincinnati now a ‘sanctuary city.’ What’s that mean?
Mayor John Cranley: Cincinnati is a sanctuary city. https://t.co/BBNyk3Z1Ev pic.twitter.com/HS5N9imxCJ
— Local 12/WKRC-TV (@Local12) January 30, 2017
Portune: Hamco will not use its police powers or jails to enforce Trump immig/refugee order @Local12 @Local12 pic.twitter.com/BsexhUjFXD
— Jeff Hirsh (@local12jeff) January 30, 2017
Cranley: Catholic Charities had Syrian refugee family ready to come here but family not allowed on plane @Local12 pic.twitter.com/aTT1QRwBuG
— Jeff Hirsh (@local12jeff) January 30, 2017
Cranley: refusal to admit Syrian refugees similar to refusal to admit Jews during Holocaust. @Local12 @Local12 pic.twitter.com/yRJuvx6o4p
— Jeff Hirsh (@local12jeff) January 30, 2017
Mayor: ‘this city stands with immigrants, Muslims, and Syrjan refugees yearning to breathe free.’ @Local12 pic.twitter.com/xu5tslqSqP
— Jeff Hirsh (@local12jeff) January 30, 2017
Rally to support refugees, immigrants at Cincinnati city hall @Local12 pic.twitter.com/OBvOIOgsqH
— Angenette Levy (@Angenette5) January 30, 2017
So proud of my hometown Cincinnati.