'Sanctuary Cities' Conference Coming To NYC

TRIBECA, NY — City council speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and a network of elected officials will lead the first national conference of sanctuary cities later this month at the Borough of Manhattan Community College.

Mark-Viverito's office announced the conference on Wednesday with Local Progress, a network of progressive elected officials throughout the country.

"While the President doubles down on his deportation plans, national leaders will be gathering to discuss how best to protect the nation’s immigrants from the administration’s harsh policies," conference organizers wrote in a statement.

The conference will be held at the community college in Tribeca on March 27 and 28. Representatives from cities including Austin, San Juan and Tucson are scheduled to speak on panels at the conference, in addition to New York City officials.

"The convening will specifically focus on highlighting strategies to help lawmakers protect their immigrants and fight for sanctuary policies in the face of growing threats from the administration," organizers said in a statement. "Panels will examine ways to address legal and budgetary concerns, tactics for litigation and community organizing, and guidance on messaging."

NYC is one of hundreds of so-called "sanctuary" cities and counties in the country. In general, government officials in these jurisdictions prohibit local law enforcement from working with federal immigration officers to deport undocumented immigrants, unless they have been charged with serious crimes. At least 39 cities and 364 counties in the U.S. consider themselves "sanctuaries," according to the Immigrant Legal Resource Center.

Lead image via Patch.