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Bridgeport looks to offer more protections to undocumented immigrants

<p>Bridgeport City Council members are talking about providing more protection for immigrants in the country illegally.</p>

News 12 Staff

Apr 27, 2017, 10:44 PM

Updated 2,561 days ago

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Bridgeport looks to offer more protections to undocumented immigrants
Bridgeport City Council members are talking about providing more protection for immigrants in the country illegally, but there is no concrete answer yet as to how that will happen.
Council members met Wednesday night to discuss the issue and mentioned proposals that were created due to growing pressure from residents to make Bridgeport a "sanctuary city," although Mayor Joe Ganim has shied away from taking on that label.
Advocates have pushed for the approval of the sanctuary resolution and even held rallies before City Council hearings. Council members discussed Wednesday the possibility of instead turning Bridgeport into a "compassionate city." 
While Bridgeport would not be labeled as a sanctuary city, police officers under the amended proposal would limit their cooperation with federal immigration authorities. They would also not be able to detain someone solely because of their immigration status.
Some say the compromise is a way to avoid any litigation penalties that President Donald Trump might impose. He has previously threatened to strip federal funding from sanctuary cities. Still, one council member, Jose Casco, says he does not support the new resolution and will keep fighting until Bridgeport is a sanctuary city.
A federal judge earlier this week said that taking away federal funding from sanctuary cities could be unconstitutional, putting that portion of President Trump's executive order on immigration on hold.
In the meantime, City Council members say they will be meeting next week to discuss the proposals.


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