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Gov. Malloy Says "Sanctuary Cities" Is Not a Helpful Term

Ryan Caron King
/
WNPR
Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy in a WNPR file photo.

Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy told a group of refugees, Jewish Community leaders, and elected officials on Tuesday that places where local police don’t enforce federal immigration laws should not be called "sanctuary cities."

President-elect Donald Trump has said so-called sanctuary cities should lose federal funding.

Malloy said there is no such thing as a sanctuary city in legal terms.

“It’s a term that’s been made up, really -- made up by folks who want to condemn those communities, as opposed to support them,” Malloy said.

He said Trump’s comments that he may take action to deport nearly two million undocumented immigrants would have to be executed by federal immigration agents.

“I think Connecticut is honoring its commitments, but we’re also saying to the federal government: if you desire to take actions, you should take those actions -- but don’t depend on us to take those actions on your behalf,” Malloy said.

Police departments in New Haven and Hartford have been called sanctuary cities because they do not ask people for immigration status, and do not detain people on behalf of federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Malloy said he would sue if a federal policy tried to strip funding from those places in Connecticut.

This report comes from WSHU Public Radio.

Cassandra Basler oversees Connecticut Public’s flagship daily news programs, Morning Edition and All Things Considered. She’s also an editor of the station’s limited series podcast, 'In Absentia' and producer of the five-part podcast Unforgotten: Connecticut’s Hidden History of Slavery.

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SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de Connecticut Public, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.