The White House today disavowed a draft memo obtained by the Associated Press
that proposes mobilizing 100,000 National Guard troops to round up illegal immigrants.
That’s not likely to happen.
What is likely to happen is broad enforcement of Trump’s executive order to deny federal funding
to so-called “sanctuary cities”: jurisdictions that choose not to enforce federal immigration policy.
In Michigan, the state legislature is considering a similar state-wide bill to cut cities out of tax-sharing plans,
but in the capital city of Lansing, lawmakers are deciding whether to declare themselves a sanctuary anyway.
And the measure is dividing the all-liberal local government.
— Kathie Dunbar has been a Lansing City Council member for 12 years.
By day, she runs a non-profit on the city’s underprivileged south side.
But in the last few weeks, she’s been reading up on immigration law.
She wants the city council to declare that Lansing is a sanctuary city.
— So tell me what it is that the city is not doing when it comes to immigration
that you would change if you become a sanctuary city.
— We already do a lot of things, or don't do a lot of things.
We don't ask for immigration status when we do random stops.
Our city departments don't ask for documentation unless it's required by law.
We would be flagged under this administration for being a sanctuary city.
I just want to put it in writing to make people more comfortable.
— The city of Lansing is another one of those metropolitan enclaves of blue in an otherwise red state.
While Trump barely won Michigan, 60.2% of Ingham County, where Lansing is, voted for Clinton.
In this liberal town, it might be surprising that the city council is even arguing about being a “sanctuary city.”
— Why can't a blue town agree on something like this?
It seems like a very fundamental issue for the left these days.
— I don't think anybody up there disagrees that this should be adopted,
there should be a resolution adopted.
They're all scared about how far it goes.
— Are you scared of Trump?
— I wouldn't say that. I'm angered by him. I'm mystified by him.
I'm stunned by him almost every day, but scared of him? No.
— Mayor Virg Bernero has been in charge of this city for eleven years.
— So is Lansing a sanctuary city?
— Boy, go right for the jugular.
In many respects, we are.
I have to put the caveat in, because I don't know what a sanctuary city is.
—While Bernero may not want to define a sanctuary city,
in a Trump administration, the phrase equates a loss of money.
And in the time he’s been running the city, the poverty rate has gone from 18.5% to 21%.
— Where does Trump factor into this conversation?
— Well, he has to factor in.
Anytime a federal official, especially the President of United States,
talks about taking money away from us— we're trying to provide real services to real people.
We're struggling to answer 911 calls. I mean, that's the reality.
— And to him, that reality means his city has to cooperate with the federal government.
They need to cooperate with President Donald Trump.
— if I'm an undocumented immigrant, I'm arrested.
Do I get turned over to ICE by Lansing police?
— If you're breaking the law in Lansing and ICE has a detainer on you, we hold you for ICE.
We have done that and we plan to continue to do that.
—The Recent ICE Raids stirred Kathie, other city council members, protesters, and immigrants into action.
On the table at the city council meeting: a resolution approved by the city attorney,
supporting policies, quote, “welcoming,” unquote, to immigrants,
but without any mention of the word "sanctuary."
— It does not declare Lansing to be a, quote-unquote, “sanctuary city,” whatever that is.
It rather declares Lansing to be the “welcoming city,” which it always has been.
—After nearly four hours, the council voted down some stronger pro-sanctuary amendments.
— Four-three.
— And then they punted the final decision.
— Let’s consider it pulled at this point.
— Activists and council members are hoping to find language everyone can agree on.
— So did you win today?
— By putting it on hold? I think so. I mean, seriously.
I didn’t wanna pass anything that would make folks feel comfortable, or safe,
where there’s really no teeth in it to make them safe.
— And you think that more time will get you more of these people on the council to vote for teeth?
— I think more time will help provide them with more education in the matter
and make them feel more comfortable.
— Lansing shares a desire to draw a clear line from Trump.
But it’s also wrestling with how antagonistic to be towards a White House that’s ready for a fight.
The final decision could land with Benero, who has veto power over city council resolutions.
— You’re trying to figure out a way to keep that federal money and keep Trump from
coming down here and saying you should lose it.
— Yes, yes. No question about it.
And I would like—I definitely want to keep all the federal money and state money, and add to it,
that I get so I can do the good things that the public needs me to do.
I'm not going to compromise my core principles, you know?
Is there something that I would lay down in front of a truck for and potentially risk getting arrested?
There are.
— But the words “sanctuary city” is not it.
— No. Exactly.