Safe Community Resolution for Greenfield

A RESOLUTION OF THE GREENFIELD HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION RECOMMENDING DECLARING GREENFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS A SAFE COMMUNITY

Subsequent to a public forum regarding these matters on December 12, 2016, and discussion with members of the public and the members of the Commission, the Commission states;

WHEREAS, the City known as the Town of Greenfield, Massachusetts, is a welcoming community that serves and protects its residents regardless of their immigration status; and

WHEREAS, THE CITY KNOWN AS THE TOWN OF GREENFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, IS A CITY OF DIVERSITY AND TOLERANCE WHERE THOSE WHO ARE PERSECUTED CAN FIND SAFE HAVEN AND SANCTUARY, WITH A HISTORY OF SUPPORTING IMMIGRANTS, REFUGEES AND PERSECUTED AFRICAN-AMERICANS ESCAPING SLAVERY IN THE NINETEENTH CENTURY BY MEANS OF THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD STOPS IN THIS COMMUNITY; AND

WHEREAS, in Greenfield, Massachusetts, all people, including immigrants, are accorded respect, dignity and accepted as full and important members of the community; and

WHEREAS, immigration has been a vital part of our city, region, state and nation’s development; and valued as enriching the cultural fabric of our community and personal lives, the Commission, in true faith with the United States Constitution and the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which form the bedrock of its’ work, also supports comprehensive immigration reform and the continuation of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals ( DACA ) program where undocumented youth receive temporary status and the opportunity to have a future in the place where they reside with their families or caregivers.

NOW, THEREFORE, THE GREENFIELD HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AND RECOMMENDS THAT THE GREENFIELD CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR, BY EITHER ORDINANCE OR EXECUTIVE ACTION:

Section 1. Declare Greenfield, Massachusetts, to be a Safe Community and;

Section 2. Declare that, as a Safe Community, city employees will serve all residents, and city services will be accessible to all residents, regardless of immigration status; and

Section 3. Declare that the city of Greenfield will not inquire upon a resident’s immigration status in providing municipal services or in the course of law enforcement; and

Section 4. Declare that as a Safe Community, the city of Greenfield will have policies that instruct employees to refuse the application of any request from a state or federal agency that requires the identification of a resident’s immigration status, leaving that
determination to federal authorities; and

Section 5. Declare that the city of Greenfield shall refuse any requests that are an extension of any federal immigration policy enforcement actions to federal authorities and shall not enter into any agreements to carry out such federal enforcement actions, but leave such actions to federal authorities; and

Section 6. Declare that the city of Greenfield shall review its policies to ensure that they reflect Greenfield’s status as a Safe Community, including possible revision of city policies to comply with this Resolution.

PASSED BY THE GREENFIELD HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION this 13th day of February, 2017.