The White Plains Common Council is considering a resolution that would put it on record as supporting immigrants and denouncing the current tactics being used by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). It is expected that the council will vote on whether to go on the record against what ICE has been doing when it meets on March 4.
According to census statistics, the City of White Plains in 2024 had a population of 62,561 of which 32.1% identify as Hispanic or Latino, with 30.7% being foreign born.
The resolution under consideration says, “White Plains recognizes that these immigrants from throughout the world work hard and contribute positively to our city, state and nation, strengthening our economy and our community.”
Without mentioning the Trump administration or Donald Trump by name, the resolution accuses the current administration of pursuing immigration enforcement policies and actions based on fear and intimidation. The federal government is accused of engaging in violence against both non-citizens and citizens as well as using inhumane tactics such as family separation. The resolution cites the recent shootings of two U.S. citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis by federal agents.
“This has created an atmosphere of fear and intimidation across the country, including in the City of White Plains,” the resolution says.
The resolution blasts the administration for having federal agents cover their faces with masks so they cannot be readily identified, not wearing clear identification and not displaying badges as do members of the White Plains Police Department. It “strongly denounces the manipulative and violent tactics used by ICE and other Federal law enforcement agencies to apprehend those deemed illegal.”
The resolution notes that White Plains police do not participate in immigration-related activities by federal agencies and White Plains police do not profile people based on race, ethnicity, skin color, or language spoken.
The resolution under consideration urges members of the New York State Legislature as well as the U.S. Congress to pass laws prohibiting federal law enforcement officials from concealing their identities in any way and ensuring that they openly identify themselves to protect immigrant communities.
