DC Law Would Limit Enforcement of Fed Immigration Laws

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)The District continues to be on the leading edge of the immigrant rights issue as members of labor, faith, civil rights, and community groups packed the Wilson Building on January 6 to support legislation -- co-sponsored by all 13 members of the DC City Council -- limiting local enforcement of federal laws governing the detention of undocumented migrants. The proposed law “will ensure that local law enforcement is able to focus on maintaining the public safety without deferring scarce resources to divisive tactics that carry a high cost for immigrants and their families” testified SEIU 32BJ District Director Jaime Contreras. – Report by Rachel Sier, photo of Jaime Contreras (SEIU), Heidi Altman (Center for Applied Legal Studies at Georgetown Law), and Paromita Shah (National Immigration Project) by Cindy Zavala