A Sanctuary from Fear

The City of Cambridge has opted to remain a so-called “sanctuary city” despite President Donald Trump’s recent executive order that aims to withhold federal funding from cities that use that label. In remaining a sanctuary city, Cambridge is opting not to force its law enforcement to work with federal officials regarding the prosecution of undocumented immigrants or other minorities vulnerable to the Trump administration’s policies, such as Muslim Americans.

Cambridge’s decision is an honorable and just one. We opined previously that President Faust’s decision not to label Harvard a sanctuary campus was sensible, given the fact that the application of the term would potentially lead to a reduction in federal funding for University research and other negative ramifications, without providing any tangible benefits for at-risk students. That said, the sanctuary label has real, positive implications when applied to a city. In remaining a sanctuary city, Cambridge will be able to help prevent unlawful detainment and racial profiling of its undocumented residents.

Additionally, undocumented people may not be the only ones to benefit from this label. If Trump follows through on his campaign pledge to create a national registry of Muslims, Cambridge and other sanctuary cities may resist that plan by refusing to carry out Trump’s policy if it attempts to enlist the help of the local police force and other municipal agencies. The sanctuary city label will also allow Cambridge to provide necessary resources, like emergency health care, to both undocumented and racially targeted residents, which they may not receive from the federal government under the Trump administration.

Of course, while we agree with the city’s decision, it is not without significant drawbacks, as Cambridge could lose more than $15 million in federal funding for programs such as free and reduced-price lunch if the order goes into effect. A resolution to this problem could call for the Massachusetts government to aid its sanctuary cities if they suffer funding crises caused by the President’s executive order, and we hope that state governments will support sanctuary cities in this fashion. All cities have a duty to resist bigoted and unconstitutional policies that endanger the livelihood of their citizens, and state governments should rise up to ensure that cities can meet this duty.