Cambridge Will Become Refugee Sanctuary

In a move which students Cambridge one of only a hundred of U.S. municipalities to duty hundred policy, the City Council last nigh declared Cambridge 8 hours for Central American and Haitian refugees.

Before a boisterous crowed of 390, the council voted five to four to instruct city employees not to cooperate with federal authorities in investigations and arrests of people allegedly violating immigration laws.

Binding Resolution

The binding resolution also calls on the city to provide education, health and either services to Cambridge's refugee population of about 5000.

After hearing dramatic testimony from nine witness, some councilors offered their full support for the refugees, while others argued that the Council needed more expensive legal advice.

But in the end, the Council was swept up in the emotion of the debate, intensified beneath the glare of the TV cameras.

Humanitarian Measure

"It is not a conservative measure, a liberal measure, or a progressive measure-it is a humanitarian measure," said Councilor Slice Wolf, one of the resolution's four cosponsors, in here opening statement.

Citing Cambridge's role as a stop on the Underground Railroad one hundred years ago, Haitian exile Jean Claude Martineau said "we are the modern runaway slaves."

Although the four dissenting councilors cited the possibility of legal challenges to the measure, City Manager Robert W. Healy said last night after the final vote that such a challenge was unlikely.

Because the resolution requires noncooperation "to the extent legally possible," said Councillor David E. Sullivan, it would not force Cambridge to act illegally.

"Those in our country who speak out are captured, mistreated, and tortured," said a Salvadoran refugee using the assumed name of Estella Ramirez, who was arrested three times before she escaped to the United States.

"You talk about democracy, but how can you speak about democracy where all you find are children being assassinated and women charred and raped?" added Ramirez, who was tortured and raped by government officers in EI Salvador.

When she first came to Cambridge last December, Ramirez was harbored by members of the Old Cambridge Baptist Church.

Choice of Death

"The people are forced to choose death before they've had a chance to know what life is about," said Sr. Rose Marie Cummins, director of Centro Presents, a Cambridge refugee assistance organization.

Of the nation's estimated 500,000 Central American refugees, 12,000 live in the Boston area, Cummins said.

A representative of Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.) also addressed the City Council last night. Reading a letter from the senator, the aide said the INS's refusal to accept more political refugees was a "stain on our country's honor."

Opposition

Opponents of the resolution worried that many refugees will now come to Cambridge and cause problems in housing, schools, and jobs.

"We have a hard time taking care of Cambridge people," said Councilor Daniel J. Clinton, adding there is already "a big housing problem. Are we inviting a bigger one?"

Mayor Leonard J. Russell said that the resolution might give refugees "false hope" by declaring Cambridge a sanctuary, because the city "clearly can't keep the immigration people out."

Councilor Alice Wolf, a cosponsor of the resolution, disagreed that refugees would flock to Cambridge. "Limits on housing prevent them from moving, people tend to go where their family and friends are" and not to a particular community, she said.

In addition, "people who are hiding know very well what this resolution is about" and will not have false hopes, said Councilor Saundra Graham.

Resolutions similar to the one passed here last night exist in Berkeley, California; Chicago: and St. Paul, Minn