During a Saturday appearance on MSNBC's "PoliticsNation" with Al Sharpton, Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed spoke on the City's anticipated response to efforts by President Donald Trump's administration to round up and deport illegal aliens.
Trump's crackdown has drawn the ire of progressive leaders across the nation, many of whom have declared their city or state to be a "sanctuary" for criminal aliens.
Alabama passed a law banning sanctuary cities in 2011. However, some have subverted the prohibition by declaring themselves "welcoming cities," such as Birmingham, which passed a resolution in 2017.
While the state's progressive mayors have expressed opposition to Trump's immigration initiatives, the state is currently trying to bolster the ability of state and local police to assist in immigration enforcement.
Fresh from a meeting in Washington, D.C. with the African American Mayors Association, Reed told Sharpton he believed Trump's immigration policies are targeting black mayors specifically.
Reed also gave a non-specific analysis of the City's intent in cooperating with federal efforts to crack down on illegal immigration, touting a desire for increased trust with immigrant communities.
"It certainly seems there is a much greater spotlight on black mayors across this country," Reed said. "And we know that from the history of black mayors being elected in major cities."
He continued, "So we know that the scrutiny is always greater for us. I think when it comes to immigration, we stand ready to defend our residents. We know the importance of keeping the lines of communication open between people from all communities that we represent. Because it's important for law enforcement, it's important for public health, it's important for public education, as well as the private sector, who beneifts quite substantially from that."
"So we want to make sure that people feel comfortable talking to the police, they feel comfortable sharing information with that doctor or that nurse in the ER, or they feel comfortable talking to that teacher [or] that counselor, that something is happening in their community. And I think when the threat is out there that they can be deported or someone can be taken off the street at any time, it leads to a breakdown in the type of government and the type of response we all want to provide for our residents, and those that are citizens of this country, and those who are legal, and those who are trying to obtain legal status in our cities everywhere," Reed added.
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