By George Lehman
Boston University News Service
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu says Boston will file an appeal in response to a letter from the federal government about Boston’s sanctuary city policies, standing firm in her opposition towards the Trump administration’s deportation efforts.
During a press conference outside of Boston City Hall today, Wu addressed a letter sent by the Department of Justice last week giving the mayor until today to respond to claims that Boston’s sanctuary laws undermine federal immigration laws.
“Back in June, the city of Boston filed the Freedom of Information request with ICE, demanding the bare minimum of transparency from our federal government,” Wu said. “ICE talked a big game, promised that they would get us information, and it’s been two months without any answers.”
“So today, we will file a formal appeal insisting that ICE produce the public records we ask for, and we’re prepared to take additional legal steps if they continue to refuse transparency,” she said.
The U.S. Department of Justice sent letters last Wednesday to Wu and 31 other mayors and governors of sanctuary jurisdictions across the country, requiring those jurisdictions claimed to interfere with federal immigration laws to respond with a plan of compliance by Aug. 19.
Boston was designated as a sanctuary jurisdiction on Aug. 5 by the Department of Justice in a list of “states, cities, and counties identified as having policies, laws, or regulations that impede enforcement of federal immigration laws.”
Wu also had words for President Trump during today’s press conference, saying that Boston will “not back down” from the administration’s deportation efforts.
“Stop attacking our city to hide your administration’s failures,” Wu said. “We will not back away from our community that has made us the safest major city in the country.”
Wu also referred to Boston as “the safest major city in the country” while testifying before the U.S. House Oversight Committee on Boston’s sanctuary city policies in Washington D.C. this past March. She mentioned the city’s Trust Act, which prohibits Boston Police Department from working with ICE for detainment requests on the basis of immigration status, unless ICE has a criminal warrant.
“When it comes to criminal matters, the Boston police partner every day with state and federal law enforcement,” Wu said while testifying before Congress. “But Massachusetts state law and the Boston Trust Act make clear that immigration is federal law enforcement’s responsibility.”
While President Trump has expanded ICE deportation efforts during his second term, Boston has continued to come under scrutiny for its sanctuary city policies since earlier this year, including fro “border czar” Tom Homan who said he would be “bringing hell” to Boston after criticizing Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox in February for not cooperating with ICE.
Wu took to the social media platform Bluesky to respond to Homan’s comments.
“This is our city. We’re going to continue following & enforcing the laws to keep all Bostonians safe,” Wu wrote. “And it goes without saying that our police commissioner has my complete confidence & support.”
Sen. Ed Markey, D-M.A., also stood by Wu in her response to the Justice Department today to “stand up to Donald Trump’s authoritarianism.”
“Boston does not need the help of Donald Trump, does not need the help of ICE, [and] does not need the help of the National Guard to come here,” Markey said. “They are already doing the job.”
“Over the last several months, we’ve watched Donald Trump send the National Guard into LA and D.C. to stoke fear and disorder,” Wu said. Boston stands with these cities as they sue over his abuse of power.”
“We may have said this in D.C. nearly six months ago, and I’ll say it again today. You are wrong on the law and you are wrong on safety,” she said.
