Del. leaders call on governor to protect immigrants and their families
Thursday morning, leaders from all over the state met in Wilmington to ask for the Governor's help to protect immigrants and their families from deportation.
"We must resist we must fight," says Maria Matos, the President of The Latin American Community Center.
The ACLU of Delaware and local organizations rallied in an effort to get Governor John's Carney's support to protect local immigrants and their families.
"We ask him to refuse to cooperate with Trump's plans of mass deportation and exclusion, " says Kathleen MacRae, the Executive Director of the ACLU of Delaware.
MacRae says they have joined with local groups to sign a letter addressed to the Governor.
"He has the ability to make decisions to protect immigrant communities in Delaware and that's the message we want to send," says MacRae.
In the letter, leaders ask Governor Carney not to authorize agencies, such as state and local law enforcement to enter in formal agreements with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Right now, local enforcement are not required to report when they have undocumented immigrants in their custody, but with President Trump's executive order, local law enforcement could be given that additional task.
"We ask governor Carney to listen to Delaware police officers, who know that forcing federal immigration laws is not the role of local police, and we'll take officers away from community policing," says Matos.
"We ask him to instruct the department of corrections to not cooperate with ICE and detain people without a judicial arrest warrant," says MacRae.
Delaware leaders are also asking the governor to protect local and state databases that track immigration statuses.
Charito Calvachi- Mateyko, a member of the Delaware Civil Rights Coalition says that includes databases such as the Division of Motor Vehicles.
Two years ago, Delaware made it legal for undocumented residents to drive by applying for a driving privilege card. Mateyko says Trump's massive deportation plans have scared some residents away from applying for a card because they're afraid their immigration status will be shared with federal agencies.
"Of course they are fearful, they are having second thoughts. Should I apply for it?" says Mateyko.
Leaders tell us they hope Thursday's gathering will get these concerns addressed.
Officials from the ACLU of Delaware say they have delivered the letter to Governor Carney. The Governor's office confirmed that they have received the letter, and released this statement in response.
"Delaware will remain a safe, welcoming community for everyone to educate their children, have access to good-paying jobs and pursue the American Dream. President Trump's actions on immigration have understandably caused anxiety and fear. I will continue to meet with members of our immigrant communities, listen to their concerns and do everything I can to ensure that Delaware is a welcoming place. We are a country founded on immigration, and we ought to remain true to our values of diversity and inclusion."
