Dear Editor:
Cities throughout the country had declared themselves as “sanctuaries” for undocumented immigrants. While there is no exact description of a “Sanctuary City,” it generally means that the officials of that city will not be proactive in identifying illegal immigrants. Such a policy is within the law, since immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility that does not require specific actions on the part of local governments. Prominent “Sanctuary Cities” nationally are the cities of San Francisco and New York, while in New Jersey, Newark, Jersey City, Union City, North Bergen and West New York have declared their support for a more inclusive immigration policy for our nation. In response to the challenges that are being raised to many fundamental values in our country, it would be timely for Hoboken to declare itself a “Sanctuary City.”
Edward A. Friedman