The Civil Rights Team of the Progressive Democrats of Sussex County urges Gov. Carney and our state legislators to take the necessary legislative and executive action so that Delaware is a safe haven for all residents, including those who work, go to school, raise families, and pay taxes here, but for any one of a number of reasons have no formal documents.
No one in Delaware should have to choose between seeking shelter from an abusive spouse and getting sent to a federal prison.
No one in Delaware should be forced to choose between asking for help for a sick child and being forcibly required to leave that child.
No one in Delaware should worry that a minor moving violation on the way to work might result in never arriving there.
No child in Delaware should have to worry that a parent will not be there for her when she returns home from school.
No Delaware healthcare provider should be forced to either violate the professional dictates of confidentiality or refuse to comply with some ill thought out federal dictate.
No one in Delaware should be afraid to cooperate with local law enforcement for fear that he or she will be reported to ICE, and be incarcerated for months or longer while awaiting a hearing for possible deportation.
Becoming a place of sanctuary is not only the humane thing to do for some of the most vulnerable people residing within our state, it also affirms the importance of leaving local law enforcement decisions to our cities and towns. A bill recently introduced in Maryland is aptly titled the Trust Act because it ensures that immigrants continue to trust their local police. This too should be our goal here in Delaware. Delaware must stand in solidarity and support of sanctuary and safe haven efforts with our neighbors in towns, cities and counties in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Virginia, North Carolina and Maryland.
Of course there is a need for federal immigration policies, including the current practice of prioritizing, reporting and deportation of persons convicted of serious criminal behavior. But Delaware must refuse to march in lockstep with the vindictive procedures threatened by the Trump Administration. Our elected leaders on local, county and state levels must not be bullied or coerced by the unconstitutional threat that funds will be withheld if it acts sensibly and humanely.
Delaware is proud of being the first state to sign the U.S. Constitution. The men who signed that document 230 years ago took a risk. If there is a risk today in declaring where we stand, it is a risk worth taking. Silence in the face of injustice is not an option. Our state's motto is "liberty and independence." What better way to show these qualities than by providing freedom from fear for all residents and by showing independence from oppressive dictates of a misguided federal government?
Joanne Cabry
chair, Progressive Democrats of Sussex County
Carrie Bennett
Judy Catterton
Joan Loewenstein
Iona Smith Nze
members of the Civil Rights Team -Progressive Democrats of Sussex County
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