State Senator Daphne Campbell on Wednesday strongly criticized Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Giménez’s decision to abandon its “sanctuary city” policy, and called on him to join her in standing with immigrants and their families against Donald Trump’s anti-Muslim executive order.
“The United States is a country composed of immigrants. They are woven into the very fabric of our society,” said Senator Campbell, who was born in Haiti and immigrated to the United States in 1981. “We must not forget our roots. All Americans were immigrants at some point in our lineage. Miami has a proud history of extending a hand of welcome to the persecuted, the poor, the victims of natural disasters and those made by man. We cannot afford to turn our backs on what makes this city and this nation an international beacon of hope.”
Last week, Miami-Dade County became our nation’s first jurisdiction to abandon its so-called “sanctuary city” policy in response to a highly controversial executive order issued by President Trump. In a surprise move, Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Giménez abruptly ordered county officials to comply with all “detainer requests” from the Department of Homeland Security, which ask local law enforcement to jail suspects without warrant until they can be picked up by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials.
Thousands of Miami-Dade residents were immediately impacted by Mayor Gimenez’s announcement. In fact, Senator Campbell’s office has received many calls from the families of potentially affected constituents pleading for assistance and answers. “This is no way for the City of Miami to treat the most vulnerable among us. We must do better,” said Senator Campbell.
Protests erupted at Miami International Airport and throughout the nation against Trump’s refugee ban. “I stand with Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, Denver Mayor Michael Hancock, Boulder Mayor Suzanne Jones, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee, San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo, Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, Seattle Mayor Ed Murray, Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser, Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh, and the thousands of others speaking out for immigrant rights!” said Senator Campbell.
“I strongly urge Mayor Giménez to remember his own history, and join me in doing the same and to retract his memo for the betterment of the constituency that put him in office.”