Mayor Kenney Refuses to Give on Sanctuary City Status

The president-elect of the United States might take a hard line on undocumented immigrants, but Philadelphia will remain a “sanctuary city,” says Mayor Jim Kenney. Kenney, a Democrat, has steadfastly remained that the City of Brotherly Love will remain progressive even in the face of Donald Trump’s feelings or eventual policies against oppressed groups, including undocumented immigrants, minorities, and the LGBTQ community.

Mayor Kenney has pledged to uphold Philadelphia’s status as a sanctuary city.

Kenney addressed the issue during a speech at the Community College of Philadelphia that outlined the work his administration has done during its first year. Veering from that conversational topic, Kenney turned to the topic of president-elect Trump, whom Kenney once called a “nincompoop” on Twitter. Philadelphia will hold to its stances on protecting the oppressed, Kenney said, referring to the topic of Trump’s imminent presidency: “I am hopeful, but cautious,” Kenney said. “I want everyone to understand that cities, including Philadelphia, have been the bastion of protection for minorities, LGBT people, for immigrants, and we’re not walking this back.”

Kenney insisted that the city would cooperate with the president on “anything that’s positive.” At the same time, he said, “we are not walking back on civil rights, we’re not walking back on minority rights, we’re not walking back on LGBT rights, we’re not walking back on sanctuary city, we’re not walking back on anything we’ve established to make our city progressive.”

By definition, a sanctuary city is one that does not hold undocumented immigrants in custody (to turn over to INS) when they have committed nonviolent crimes. Trump has gone on record as threatening cities that uphold the practice with a lack of federal funds. Kenney said during Trump’s campaign that he believed Philadelphia’s right to be a sanctuary city was protected under the Fourth Amendment, which states that a person can’t be held against their will without a warrant from a judge.

In conclusion, Kenney poked fun at his own Twitter escapades, vowing to stay positive on social media from here on out.