ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Allentown could be among numerous cities targeted by the federal government for not supporting President Donald Trump’s policies targeting immigrant communities.
Trump on Monday evening signed an executive order that directs administration officials to create a list of cities and states they say have not done enough to comply with federal immigration laws.
The first list is due to be published in 30 days, with federal officials to regularly update it.
Jurisdictions on the list could have federal contracts, grants and other funding pulled.
And local officials could face civil or criminal charges — as did a Milwaukee federal judge who was arrested this week after she allegedly interfered with immigration authorities trying to make an arrest in her courthouse.
Trump’s requested list is expected to include municipalities that officials have declared to be sanctuary cities, such as Philadelphia.
The list also could feature many other cities without that official designation.
And Allentown could wind up on the list after officials in February passed a “Welcoming City” measure that codified the city's long-term practice of not using city resources to enforce federal immigration laws.
'Not a sanctuary city'
Allentown Councilwoman Ce-Ce Gerlach, who sponsored the bill, said it was “not an attempt to become a sanctuary city.”
“We are not a sanctuary city,” Gerlach told LehighValleyNews.com on Monday.
She said city laws still require police and staff to cooperate with federal immigration officials if they have a warrant authorized by a judge.
“This is the time where leaders must be courageous. The people of Allentown are looking for us to stand up and fight.”Allentown City Councilwoman Ce-Ce Gerlach
Gerlach said she suspects federal officials are keeping tabs on Allentown after it proclaimed support for immigrant and LGBTQ communities after Trump’s inauguration this year.
She said she and other council members “paid careful attention to make sure it was in alignment with federal law.”
But she acknowledged that may make little difference to administration officials.
“Trump is coming for you, no matter what,” Gerlach said of cities that have stood up for the rights of people his administration is targeting with its policies.
“I don’t think a rational, sane person can begin to plan for what Trump might do,” she said when asked how the city could prepare for potential conflicts with federal authorities.
But she urged Mayor Matt Tuerk, her colleagues on council and other local leaders to show the “courage and audacity” to resist Trump’s policies.
“This is the time where leaders must be courageous,” Gerlach said. “The people of Allentown are looking for us to stand up and fight.”
