~ During a recent Council meeting, Councilor Weber expressed the city's determination to stand in solidarity with its immigrant communities. "In times like this, we need to stand together and I think [today] we showed not just the city, but the whole country that this city is not going to back down, and we're going to stand up for our neighbors," said Councilor Weber.

The Council reaffirmed its commitment by advocating for several key pieces of immigration rights legislation in Massachusetts. These include the Safe Communities Act, the Immigration Legal Defense Act, and the Dignity Not Deportations Act, all aimed at protecting the civil rights and safety of Massachusetts residents, particularly immigrants.

The Safe Communities Act aims to prevent law enforcement from being appointed as immigration agents and ensures that no individual's immigration status will be inquired about without their consent. This legislation has been championed by Councilor Josh Zakim since 2017 and was again supported by Councilor Ayanna Pressley in 2018.

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Another important piece of legislation is the Immigration Legal Defense Act (SD.2057 and HD.4072), which would establish a fund to provide free legal services for immigrants facing deportation who lack access to legal representation. Studies have shown that immigrants with legal representation are significantly more likely to win their cases, yet over 50% of immigrants in Massachusetts do not have such representation.

In addition, the Dignity Not Deportations Act seeks to protect Massachusetts entities from collaborating with ICE by prohibiting them from renting beds or providing resources to federal immigration enforcement.

Councilors Weber, Louijeune and Mejia introduced a resolution in support of these acts, urging the Massachusetts State Legislature and Governor Healey to take swift action in enacting these laws. This would ensure protections for immigrant families and prevent unnecessary deportations.

The resolution highlights Boston's ongoing commitment to welcoming immigrants and reaffirms its dedication to the Boston Trust Act in 2024. It also emphasizes the city's determination to safeguard the rights of all residents, regardless of their immigration status. With this strong stance, Boston is setting an example for the rest of the country in standing up for its immigrant communities and promoting inclusivity and equality for all.

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