By Hannah Soyer
Since June 2014, Johnson County has been a sanctuary county, meaning that undocumented immigrants cannot be prosecuted solely for being undocumented. This is an important status for our county, especially right now, when a looming Donald Trump presidency is promising to deport or incarcerate 2 million to 3 million undocumented immigrants. Just how Trump plans to do this is unclear, but with even the threat of this happening, now is the time for us to act on a local level and make sure that our fellow residents will be protected.
There have been arguments made that designating a city as a sanctuary city makes undocumented people less safe, but the logic is simply not there to back the notion up. Being a sanctuary city doesn’t mean that undocumented immigrants are free from any legal repercussions, it just means that undocumented immigrants cannot be arrested or charged on these pretenses alone. For example: If someone living in Johnson County is undocumented and is caught stealing from a store, he or she would be charged just as a documented resident would.
On Nov. 18, a group of University of Iowa students held a rally on the Pentacrest to bring awareness of this issue and underline the importance of Iowa City continuing its sanctuary status. After the rally was over, a letter was delivered to UI President Bruce Harreld’s office, urging him to make the UI campus a sanctuary campus. In a story published on Nov. 21 on Pomona College’s website, Harreld is listed as one of the many university or college presidents who have added their names to a list who believe Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals should be upheld and continued.
The action allows certain undocumented immigrants who entered the U.S. before their 16th birthday to be free from deportation. Although it cannot be said with certainty that Harreld’s adding his name to this list was a direct result of the actions of those UI students, his action is a step in the right direction and a reflection of how public officials should operate: listening to and respecting the voices of those they serve.
And so to the rest of Iowa City and UI officials, and even to Harreld, I urge you to do your part in upholding Johnson County’s sanctuary status as a way to protect those who are living here and to foster a diverse, accepting atmosphere.
I understand that beneath the argument to ensure that Johnson County keeps its sanctuary status is the broader argument of whether undocumented immigrants have a right to be here, but the fact is that fellow residents of Johnson County, residents who are contributing to our society, should not have to feel threatened or fearful of being deported for the sole reason that they are currently unable to take the steps necessary to become documented citizens. Johnson County must actively ensure that we remain a sanctuary county.