Ruling Could Impact Salem, Other Sanctuary Cities In MA

SALEM, MA — Salem and at least eight other Massachusetts cities that have declared themselves sanctuary cities could lose out on Justice Department grant money after a federal appeals court ruling. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled last week clears the way for the U.S. Department of Justice to favor cities, towns and counties that cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in deportations. Los Angeles had sued the department after it was passed over for money under the Community Oriented Policing Services program.

In a 2 to 1 ruling, the court ruled the Trump administration could reward cities that assist ICE by using grant money to focus on illegal immigration. In 2017, Salem voters upheld the city's sanctuary city ordinance, which prohibits Salem authorities do not question people's immigration status during routine interactions. Under the ordinance, police are still allowed to cooperate with federal immigration officials on criminal cases.

How the ruling will be applied in Massachusetts is unclear, but Salem officials do not believe it will impact federal funding for the city.

"Salem’s ordinance extends the City’s previously existing non-discrimination protections to include immigration status. It does not prohibit interactions between the Salem Police Department and federal employees or agencies; therefore, we do not believe this ruling will have an impact on the City’s competitiveness for federal grants," Dominick Pangallo, chief of staff to Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll, said. "The City of Salem has not lost any federal grants as a result of the adoption of the Sanctuary for Peace ordinance in 2017. In fact, from 2017 to 2018, the City saw a 10% increase in federal grant awards. Salem Police will continue to provide services by addressing the local law enforcement and public safety needs of our community."

Salem received $500,000 from the Community Oriented Policing Services program in 2016. The Center for Immigration Studies, a conservative think tank that advocates for stricter immigration rules, says "there are definitely" municipalities in Massachusetts that will lose funding under the federal ruling.

"They should take notice from the court's ruling that they shouldn't be shielding criminal aliens from arrest," Jessica Vaughan, director of policy studies for the Center for Immigration Studies, told Statehouse News Service.

In addition to Salem, Boston, Somerville, Cambridge, Newton, Concord, Lawrence, Amherst and Northampton have passed sanctuary city ordinances. State lawmakers are also considering a bill to make Massachusetts a sanctuary state.