Salem Debate on Sanctuary City Status Swells

SALEM, MA – On both sides of the sanctuary city debate, people have one thing in common: They hold their beliefs strongly.

Responses to the informal Salem Patch poll regarding sanctuary cities were heated. In response to the question, "Should Salem become a Sanctuary City?," 54 percent of respondents said "No, absolutely not," and 43 percent said, "Yes, definitely."

Almost 2 percent of participants said they weren't sure, and the remainder wrote in their answers.

The unofficial poll was meant to gage the feeling of Witch City formalizing its Sanctuary City status ahead of the City Council meeting on the proposed ordinance. That meeting has been rescheduled to Thursday, Feb. 16, after last week's storm.

Comments on the poll ranged from treason accusations for any politician in favor of sanctuary status, to the assertion that human beings aren't illegal.

The ordinance would formalize Salem's existing position regarding law-abiding undocumented citizens. As it stands, police officers don't ask witnesses or victims of crime for their documentation.

As with all sanctuary cities, politicians and residents are concerned about losing federal funding. Mayor Kim Driscoll previously told the Boston Globe that funding wouldn't be at risk, but not everyone agrees.

Image via City of Somerville: Rally in favor of Somerville's sanctuary city status.