The Newark City Council this week passed a resolution declaring itself a Welcoming City.
The resolution, which received only one no vote council, directs city officials to not ask questions or record the immigration status of persons seeking or receiving city services.
The resolution also calls on city police and other agencies to not make an investigation solely on the basis of sexual orientation, nationality or immigration status.
Click here for a copy of the resolution.
The designation stops short of some of the Sanctuary City declarations of Philadelphia, San Francisco and other cities that have vowed to keep local law enforcement out of the business of enforcing immigration laws. The Trump administration has sought to deny federal aid to Sanctuary Cities.
The Welcoming City approach also calls for member cities to provide a welcoming environment for entrepreneurs and is viewed by supporters as a way attract socially conscious employers.
The resolution also calls for the city to train employees on welcoming practices.
Police Chief Paul Tiernan said the policy would not have an effect on the safety of residents. In other cities, there have been fears that crime victims and witnesses concerned about their status might not report incidents to law enforcement.
Click here for a list of welcoming municipalities.
