Tucson Mayor Regina Romero said she wants to create more clarity for residents who feel vulnerable to the effects of immigration enforcement.
“To make sure that they understand that they can participate civically in our parks, in our recreation centers, in different classes that the City of Tucson provides, whether it's swimming or pottery,” she said. “This is about the quality of life.”
Tucson created a “Know Your Rights Resources” webpage on people’s rights, legal help, local immigration advocates, guides for workers and employers, and family preparedness plans, to help Tucsonans stay safe and informed if there is an uptick in federal actions in the city related to the Trump Administration's mass deportation efforts.
Romero said immigration enforcement hasn’t escalated in Tucson the way it has in cities like Chicago, DC, LA or Minneapolis, but she wants the city and community to be prepared in case it does.
The city plans to craft a proposed ordinance, within 30 days, to limit immigration enforcement on city property, which Council Member Lane Santa Cruz says could include parking lots, garages, vacant lots, parks, and public facilities.
“We want to continue to assure our community that we want them to report crimes, and we want them to use city services and everything that is within our power to show that we're wanting to be a good governing body that's going to protect all of our community members, regardless of their immigration status,” Santa Cruz said.
